Overview

This review is about my visit to the Murder by the Book: A Celebration of 20th Century British Crime Fiction exhibition which is on at the library until Saturday 24 August 2024. The exhibition is a must see for all crime fiction fans, as it celebrates the stories of the UK’s most popular fiction writing. As a hue Agatha Christie fan I was thrilled to see her typewriter, dictaphone, the typescript for Curtain, a couple of her famous notebooks, a copy of The Mousetrap and a good selection of 1st edition of her novels. I did not use the main library but I did visit the Tea-Room. The library has step free access, wonderful staff with excellent customer care skills and accessible toilets.

Transport & Parking

BUS We found the journey easy by public transport. We took the train to Cambridge and from the railway station took the U2 Universal bus from Railway Station Stop 8 towards Girton Corner. The bus had step free access and a wheelchair user space. We got off at West Road, University Library. From there we crossed the road and walked up the drive to the library. On the way back the bus stop was on the same side as the library. The bus was going to Cambridge Biomedical Campus (Attenbrooke's Hospital). We got off at Railway Station Stop 1. The bus times are on the Whippet Bus website and journey times were about 10 -1 5 minutes. At time of travelling (2024) a single bus journey ticket was £2, so if coming back it is worth buying a Cambridge City Day Rover at £3.50.

Access

ENTRANCE There is a flight of about 8 steps with 2 handrails from pavement to entrance level. The platform lift is to the left of the steps through an open doorway into its own small room. It is operated by pushing a silver button on the lift and has automatic doors. It comfortably accommodated my companion, my crutch and me. To be honest I found the signage a little confusing. There is a sign on the lift door and next to a bell on the wall saying "For assistance please ring the bell". Therefore I assumed I needed to ring the bell to gain access. In less than 2 minutes a member of staff had come to assist. However, it turns out that you can operate the platform lift independently by pushing the silver button on the lift, see photo. The signs are up to let you know how to contact the library if the lift is not working. It would be helpful if the signage was changed to reflect this, saying if you experience problems with operating this lift please press bell or call xxx. Exiting the lift you brings you to the main entrance. This has a revolving door on the left and a push button automatic door on the right. This leads into the main foyer where there is an information desk, small bookshop and gated entrances/exits to the library. MURDER BY THE BOOK EXHIBTION The exhibition is in 2 parts. There is step free access to both. PART 1 The exhibition starts in a ground floor room, which hosts the largest part of the exhibition. The step free route has a ground floor entrance to the right of the main steps/entrance. Visitors should ring the doorbell, and may have to wait briefly for staff to open the door. When you have finished you retrace your steps to exit. The main entrance to the exhibition is off the foyer, through and open archway. Here you will find large print guides for the exhibition. There are then double manual doors with a sign on saying "Heavy door please pull" (I wish other venues would copy this helpful practice). There is then 6 steps down into the exhibition space. Please be aware that the handrail on both sides stops before the last 2 or 3 steps, which made it a little difficult for me to use the steps. This part of the exhibition is in one large room. Items are placed on shelves or in glass cabinets. There is one wooden bench with no arms but back support from the wall, at the far end of the gallery. There were also a couple of portable stools. PART 2 Part 2 of the exhibition is on the 1st floor. To visit retrace your steps to the information desk in the foyer. From there you will need to deposit any large items and will be give a visitors lanyard. There are either steps with handrails or a lift to the 1st floor. The lift is key operated by staff. When you have finished there is a bell to ring, see photo, to call staff to assist you back to the ground floor in the lift. Staff came quickly when we pushed the button. The exhibition continued along a step free, communal passageway and consisted of information boards and book displays. There were also some chairs with back support. TEA-ROOM Visitors are welcome to use the Tea Room selling drinks , snacks and cake. To get there involves 2 manual double doors. The café is self service with the counter at the far end. There are also shelves stocked with food and drink. There are free standing long tables and chairs with back support. The room is large and spacious.

Toilets

While there I visited 2 accessible toilets, the one on the 1st floor is massive. EXHIBTION GALLERY ACCESSIBLE TOILET The accessible toilet in the exhibition gallery is signposted and through a manual door which brings you out into a short corridor. There are a few door but the accessible toilet has a wheelchair user sign on it, see photo. It is a manual door and leading into a square and quite compact space accessible toilet, see photo, which maybe a bit challenging for powerchair users. There was an emergency cord and plenty of grab rails. It was clean, tidy and well maintained. 1st FLOOR ACCESSIBLE TOILET This toilet is huge. It has plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord. It is clean, tidy and well maintained. There is also a baby changing facility.

Staff

Staff and customer service were fantastic. When we rang the bell (on 2 different occasions) for assistance someone came in less than 2 minutes to help. Likewise when we were at the information desk, staff were helpful, proactive and nothing was too much trouble.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

This is a very accessible and welcoming library. The current Murder by the Book exhibition is amazing, it out did my expectations. We were so glad we visited. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved and I especially appreciated all the Agatha Christie items. The Tea-Rooms have a nice selection of delicious snacks and drinks at reasonable prices. Highly recommend a visit especially for the wonderful Murder by the Book exhibition.

Photos