Library of Birmingham
The public library, under construction in 2012
The Library of Birmingham is a public library in the center of Birmingham, England, which was opened on 3rd September 2013. The library was operated by the City Council as a key project for the development of the city center and built for an estimated 188.8 million pounds sterling. It is the largest public library in the United Kingdom and the largest cultural public space in Europe as well as the largest regional library in Europe.
Construction
The building was designed by the Dutch architectural firm Mecanoo (architect Francine Houben ) designed in collaboration with Buro Happold, which emerged in August 2008 as the winner of an international competition. The preparation of the land and archaeological work began between the buildings Baskerville House and Birmingham Repertory Theatre already before the planning phase was completed. The construction was carried out by the company Carillion, started in January 2010 with the goal of opening on September 3.
Opening
The official opening on September 3, 2013 Malala Yousafzai took before, a 16 -year-old schoolgirl who survived an attack by the Taliban in Pakistan and now lives in Birmingham. Before she unveiled a plaque, she said: "Let us not forget did even one book, one pen, one teacher can change the world. " ( Let us not forget that even just a book, a pen, a teacher change the world can. ). Ed Vaizey, the Culture Minister (Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), was also present.
Collections
The library has 400,000 books, 40 % of its population located in an area of 35,000 m².
The library has several collections of international importance, including the Boulton & Watt Archive, the Bournville Village Trust Archive, the Charles Parker Archive, the Parker collection of children's books and Wingate Bed collection of tickets, the archive of the British Institute of Organ Studies library of the Railway and Canal Historical Society.
The wood-paneled Shakespeare Memorial Room was designed in 1882 by John Henry Chamberlain for the first Central Library. When the old building was demolished in 1974, this room was disassembled and later integrated into the new library complex. When the Library of Birmingham was built, he moved again, this time to the top floor. It houses the most important collection of Shakespeare Britain and adjacent to the Folger Shakespeare Library, the most important of the world. The collection contains 43,000 volumes, including copies of the first four folio editions, including the First Folio of 1623, more than 70 editions of pieces that were printed before 1709, and a nearly complete collection of Shakespeare's total expenditure.