Birmingham Medical Institute

[leslam]

Not sure is this is the correct sub-forum; feel free to move if there's somewhere better....

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The Birmingham Medical Institute was founded in 1875, on the initiative of Mr Sampson Gamgee. Its first home was in Queen’s College, but in 1880 moved to its own premises in Edmund Street in the City Centre. A further move to Great Charles Street in 1924 was followed by a move to the present building (on the corner of Harborne Road and Highfield Road in Edgbaston) in 1957.

Their website gives more details: https://www.bmedi.org.uk/index.php?page=history

Today, they have announced that they are to sell its 5000 book library of unique books. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-17733768.

The collection that has taken over a century to collect is to be broken up. What a shame

 

[mikejee]

I notice their website says it is a "focus for the heritage and history of medicine in the City". The BBC report says that demand for its courses is decreasing. so it looks as if it will end up as a comfortable little club for the group who control it, not contributing anything to the community it was founded to serve. It would have been better if they had donated the books to the Ubiversity, with a proviso that they were kept and not sold.

 

[sistersue61]

That's so sad, but their courses have become very expensive over the last 3-4 years - I went to one study day on a regular basis and at £100, it was reasonable value, but the course has now been discontinued due to lack of numbers they say - wouldn't be anything to do with the cost going up to £250 at a time when cuts are going on across the NHS!
The lirary thereis fantastic, with some really lovely books, like Mike says, they should be donated to one of the medical university libraries, not sold off and split up.
The interior of the building is beautiful too and has kept all the features in the rooms, even down to the slightly musty smell in some of the rooms.
Sue