In pictures: Liverpool's restored £50m library
- Published
Liverpool's new-look Central Library has opened its doors for the first time in two years following a £50m restoration which includes a new central atrium. The refurbishment was the result of a decade of planning and took four months to re-stock.
Opened originally in 1860, the library on William Brown Street is located in the heart of a Unesco World Heritage site. This global connection is reflected in the international room now renamed Discover which opens to the public for the first time.
A literary pavement, leading to the library entrance, displays the names of writers and titles from the world of books, cinema and music from Pride and Prejudice to Ulysses; Schindler's List to Apocalypse Now.
Bombed during World War II, most of the library, except for the façade, was destroyed and later rebuilt and extended in the 1950s and 1970s. The Oak Room (which dates back to 1914) was previously only viewed by appointment but is now open to all.
The 1950s Brown Library has been demolished, rebuilt and extended, the 1978 eight-storey extension between the Walker Art Gallery and the World Museum was also demolished but other areas such as the historic Hornby Room have been restored.
Over the next 12 months, more than 1m people are expected to visit the restored Central Library which, for the first time, boasts a roof terrace. The building opens its doors to the public at 10am on Friday 17 May, coinciding with LightNight which sees cultural gems open their doors until late.