THE MONTAGU C. BUTLER LIBRARY
The library is named after its founder Montagu Butler, by training a musician but also a lifelong enthusiast for Esperanto, pacifism, and many other things. Early in the last century he began collecting Esperanto literature at his home, and in the 1930s his collection was amalgamated with the small existing library of the British Esperanto Association. In the 1960s the library eventually outgrew the Butler family home and moved to the Association’s headquarters in London’s elegant Holland Park district. Finally in September 2002 the Association and its library reopened in the newly rebuilt Esperanto House at Wedgwood Memorial College in Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent.
From its modest beginnings some ninety years ago the Library has grown to a collection of some 13,000 volumes, mostly through gifts and legacies. It has one of the best collections of early (pre-1914) Esperanto literature, and continues to collect selectively from the large volume of Esperanto material being published. In addition to original and translated Esperanto literature and theoretical writings on interlinguistics, the library collects manuscripts, periodicals, sound recordings and memorabilia. Many of these are available for loan either at the library or through the national inter-lending system. The very substantial documentary and photo archives chronicle the progress of Esperanto through the years and are an invaluable resource for researchers and historians. Many of the sound recordings can be heard and downloaded at the Sonbanko Esperanta.
The new Library now offers excellent study facilities in pleasant surroundings, with meals and accommodation available in the College. If library users time their visit to coincide with one of the Esperanto courses and gatherings regularly hosted by the College, they can also be assured of pleasant company.
For more information on the library, contact the librarian Geoffrey King
For general information on Esperanto contact your local Esperanto website, such as
Britain: http://www.esperanto-gb.org/
Scotland: http://www.skotlando.org/
Ireland: http://esperanto.ie/
USA: http://www.esperanto-usa.org/
Canada: http://esperanto.ca/
South Africa: http://www.esperanto.za.org/
Australia: http://aea.esperanto.org.au/
New Zealand: http://www.esperanto.org.nz/
