Stock Photo - 1980 - The World's Best Reading Club is a century old: The reading room of the British Museum is filled every day.: The most impressive room to be found anywhere in the world is celebrating its centenary. Under a dome larger than that of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Reading Room of the British Museum is unique in its display of more books to be seen at one time than in any other library. Although it is the largest room, it surprises many to learn that it contains only a fragment of the books belonging to the, Museum, which receives copies of every published work under Act of Parliament. This --tunda' holds 70,000 books around its Walls. It is 47 yards in diameter, and shelves rise to 30 feet. The room was designed by Sir Anthony Panizzi, although the professional architect was Sydney Smirke. In the centre of the room are concentrate circles of benches under which are the catalogues in 1650 volumes. These contain the name of every work for which the Musuem is responsible. Any book can be obtained within a very short time by a person processing the Readers Ticket. Readers use desks which radiate like wheel spokes from the centre of the room, each with its own reading lamp and comfortable le chair. (Credit Image: © Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com)