Koninglijke Bibliotheek (Royal Library), The Hague[edit]
On a Monday morning I took a train to the Hague, where the Koninglijke Bibliotheek, Nationale bibliotheek van Nederland, is located. I was spurred on to visit after looking for a book that Steve recommended, which apparently was available in the collection of the Royal Library when I looked through Worldcat.
On arrival at the Royal Library, I went straight to the reception. I asked "Is this the Royal Library?" and the receptionist replied "It's up there", pointing upstairs, "But you need a pass to enter".
"Ok, can I get a pass there?" "Yes, but you have to put your coat and bag downstairs in a locker". "Ok, thanks".
It wasn't a very warm reception. After locking my things away, I went upstairs to the front desk of the library, where I met a more helpful staff member, who patiently explained to me that I needed to register online at a computer "over there", and that I also needed a form of ID (no problem), and something with my address on it (small problem as I didn't have anything). Most of the collection is held in stacks and must be reserved to be read. There were a lot of rules to be observed, including a reading room in which computers were not allowed (the click-clacking of typing was an issue), and although the staff member could reserve the books I needed, I couldn't take them home until my address had been verified.
He explained:
"If you reserve before 8:30 they'll be there at 10:00, if you reserve before 10:30 they'll be there at 1:00. And if you reserve before 1:30, they'll be there at 3:00."
Cool. I registered online, then paid an annual membership fee (usually 15 euros, but as I am a student it was 7.50). It seemed quite strange that a national library charged for membership, and I was curious as to why.
I left, and returned the next day to collect the two books I had reserved. At the front desk was a different staff member, who carefully explained where I needed to go to pick up my books. When I got to the collection desk, a rather flustered librarian told me that the system was down. She had my books on a shelf, but had to check to see if I could take them home or not (most of the collection can not be taken outside of the library). Thankfully she improvised an old-fashioned solution by writing down my membership details and the call number of each book. It turned out that I could take the books home. I left as fast as I could, keen to get back to school where I could scan the books and liberate them from the Royal Library.