Cambridge University Library extends its welcome

Fourteen bronze sculptures, fittingly in the form of stacks of books, have been installed outside the iconic building.

With three different designs, including four central columns of books that move independently to reveal the title of the artwork, ‘Ex Libris’ (reminiscent of book plates meaning ‘from the library of’), the sculptures will be visible 24 hours a day.

University Librarian Anne Jarvis hopes the sculptures will encourage members of the University and visitors alike to see the building in a whole new light.

She said: “We wanted to bring the Library out beyond its walls and create a welcoming space by expanding the entrance beyond the front steps.

“It’s particularly fitting, as we are about to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the opening of the imposing Giles Gilbert Scott building in October this year.”

The artworks are the creation of local sculptor Harry Gray, pictured, whose design reflects some of the Library’s associations and architectural features.

He said: “We want people to come and touch the books. Each book on the four central columns moves and rotates independently of all the others - and you have to move the books to discover the title of the artwork.

“In that way they’re a metaphor for the Library itself; you can’t just look at the books, you have to use them to gain understanding, to get the bigger picture.

“I’m thrilled by the way they’ve turned out. Almost by accident the finish on the bronzes has a leathery look, which makes them look like the real thing. The bronze will age, and like real books they’ll get older and change in appearance. I’m really excited by it and it’s been a fantastic project to work on.”

Work on the design first started a year ago with the finished sculptures – cast at the FSE Foundry in Braintree – put into place over a two-week period at the end of August. The artist’s ten-year-old daughter Georgia, who has a passion for reading and creative writing, spent some of her holidays assisting her father by putting the finishing touches on the bronze books.
Gray’s enthusiasm for the project also drew a number of library staff (including the University Librarian) to his workshop for hands-on polishing of the sculptures.

He added: “Quite deliberately, there are no titles or authors on any of the books. We wanted it to represent all books rather than named ones - and not be constrained to a title or author. If we’d tried to name them, it could have been a minefield, we might never have decided on which ones to have!”