Birmingham Central Library
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N 52° 28.806 W 001° 54.273
30U E 574394 N 5815002
Birmingham Central Library, Birmingham in the English West Midlands
Waymark Code: WM1D8F
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/10/2007
Views: 72
The first municipal library occupied the northern half of a site on Edmund Street and facing the Town Hall. The site had been acquired from the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI) after they had commenced construction of their own institute building on the southern half, which was to include a public library - a referendum under the Free Libraries Act 1850 on the creation of a municipal library having failed. A second vote in 1860 agreed on the building of a library, causing the Corporation and the BMI to cooperate in a joint site. A design by E. M. Barry had been chosen by the BMI but was too expensive for the Corporation, so they chose William Martin to design all but the façade. The library was opened in 1865, but during the building of an extension in 1879 a fire caused extensive damage, destroying most of the 50,000 reference books.
The library was rebuilt on the same site by Martin & Chamberlain and opened in 1882. As the number of books increased, the Council approved the creation of a replacement library in 1938, but it was not until the late 1960s, and the need for the new Inner Ring Road that action was taken, and the current building constructed alongside. The original library and the BMI were demolished and the site is now part of the UCE Birmingham Conservatoire and its gardens. The site the current central library is now situated was originally the Mason College and Liberal Club.
Wikipedia...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Central_Library
Classification of Library: Public Library (Open to all)
Internet access available: Yes - Library Terminal: Register with Library Clerk to use
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday 09.00 - 20.00 hrs
Saturday 09.00 - 17.00 hrs
Sunday closed
Library Website: [Web Link]
Additional Internet Connection Options: Not listed
Approximate date of opening.: Not listed
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