Library of Birmingham

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Library of Birmingham
Library of Birmingham March 2012.JPG

The public library, under construction in 2012

Duration 400,000 volumes
Library type Regional library
place Birmingham , England Coordinates: 52 ° 28 ′ 47 "  N , 1 ° 54 ′ 30"  WWorld icon
operator Birmingham City Council
Website http://libraryofbirmingham.com/

The Library of Birmingham is a public library in the center of Birmingham , England that opened on September 3, 2013. The library was operated by the City Council as a significant project for the development of the center and, for an estimated 188.8 million pounds Sterling built. It is considered the largest public library in the UK and the largest cultural public space in Europe and the largest regional library in Europe.

construction

The building was designed by the Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo (architect: Francine Houben ) in collaboration with BuroHappold , who won an international competition in August 2008. Site preparation and archaeological work between the Baskerville House and Birmingham Repertory Theater buildings began before the planning phase was completed. The construction was carried out by the Carillion Group, started in January 2010 with the aim of opening on September 3rd.

opening

The official opening on September 3, 2013 was made by Malala Yousafzai , a 16-year-old student who survived a Taliban attack in Pakistan and now lives in Birmingham. Before unveiling a blackboard, she said, “Let us not forget that even one book, one pen, one teacher can change the world.” (Let us not forget that even just one book, one pen, one teacher changes the world can.). Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, was also present.

Collections

inner space

The library offers 400,000 books, 40% of its holdings, on an area of ​​35,000 m².

The library owns several collections of international importance including the Boulton & Watt Archives, the Bournville Village Trust Archives, the Charles Parker Archives, the Parker Collection of Children's Books, the Wingate Bed Collection of Tickets, the Archives of the British Institute of Organ Studies and the Library of the Railway and Canal Historical Society.

The wood-paneled Shakespeare Memorial Room was designed by John Henry Chamberlain for the first Central Library in 1882 . When their old building was demolished in 1974, this room was dismantled and later integrated into the new library complex. When the Library of Birmingham was being built, he moved again, this time to the top floor. It houses the most important Shakespeare collection in Great Britain and, along with the Folger Shakespeare Library, the most important in the world. The collection contains 43,000 volumes, including copies of the first four folio editions, including the First Folio of 1623, over 70 editions of pieces printed before 1709, and a nearly complete collection of complete Shakespeare editions.

Web links

Commons : Library of Birmingham  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Library of Birmingham: Official opening of £ 189m building (English) . In: BBC News . Retrieved September 3, 2013. 
  2. ^ Robert Booth: Library of Birmingham plans unveiled as recession opens a new chapter for civic buildings (English) . In: The Guardian , April 3, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2010. 
  3. ↑ Library of Birmingham on BBC Radio 4 (English) , Mecanoo architecten. Retrieved May 8, 2012. 
  4. ↑ Library of Birmingham: 'It's about more than just books' ( English ) In: BBC Online . August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  5. ^ A b Gina Thomas: The Palace of the People is now in Birmingham , Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Dan Stewart: Mecanoo scoops £ 188.8m Birmingham library ( english ) In: Building . August 5, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
  7. ↑ Building work at £ 193m Library of Birmingham poses 'safety risk to pedestrians' ( English ) In: Birmingham Mail . Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  8. ↑ Carillion starts work on Birmingham's £ 193m library . In: Building . January 8, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  9. ^ Work Begins on Library of Birmingham . Birmingham City Council. January 4, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  10. ↑ Taliban victims open library in Birmingham / Malala (16) had campaigned for girls to get an education . Northwest Newspaper . September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  11. ↑ 'Let us not forget that even one book, one pen, one teacher can change the world' ( English ) September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  12. ^ A b c Shadows and Circles / Library at Birmingham by Mecanoo . baunetz.de. August 28, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  13. ^ The Charles Parker Archive ( English ) Birmingham City Council. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  14. ↑ Collections ( English ) Library of Birmingham. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  15. ^ Shakespeare Memorial Room ( English ) Library of Birmingham. Retrieved September 2, 2013.