Council unveils new £193 million proposals Birmingham City Council is working towards delivery of a major new facility for the city and the region: the Library of Birmingham and The REP. Our goal is to set new standards for libraries in the 21st century, creating an exceptional resource for learning, information, and culture. The Library of Birmingham will be open, welcoming and accessible to all citizens - it will connect Birmingham to the world and bring the world to Birmingham. The project is an exciting opportunity to modernise, enabling us to deliver an outstanding public service to local people in the decades to come. On 12 October 2007 the Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Mike Whitby unveiled proposals to deliver the Library of Birmingham on a shared site with the world famous Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP). This groundbreaking £193 million project will be developed on land adjoining The REP, with the library and theatre joining together and sharing a number of facilities to create a unique centre for knowledge, learning and culture. The announcement follows the completion of the business case for the Library of Birmingham by leading project and construction development consultant Capita Symonds. Cabinet approved the proposals on 22 October 2007 and the Project Manager was appointed in December 2007. A world-wide competition has resulted in a shortlist of seven internationally renowned design teams. The short-listed practices will be invited to a familiarisation day in April to be introduced to the project, site, existing library and REP operations before tendering their formal submissions. All entries will then be evaluated via a rigorous process of interviews and presentations, with an appointment due to be made in the summer, enabling design work to get underway by autumn 2008. Construction is scheduled to start in 2010 for completion by mid 2013.

Where will the Library of Birmingham be built? The site for the Library of Birmingham is between Baskerville House and Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Centenary Square. It is currently used as a car park. Owned by the City Council, the site has long been earmarked for a special, high quality new development. The Council is committed to delivering a new landmark building to make an exciting addition to the urban landscape in this part of the city centre. The development will include a new medium-sized auditorium, meeting and conference rooms, plus cafe and restaurant facilties that will be for the shared use of the library and the theatre. It will also include improvements to The REP's frontage and front-of-house facilties.The development will boost and consolidate the continued regeneration of the city centre's Westside and the improvement of Centenary Square.

Archaeological dig unveils past An archaeological survey has been carried out on the site, revealing remains from the city’s industrial past not far below the car park surface. Archaeologists from the University of Birmingham have unearthed a canal arm and factory remains, as predicted by a desk top survey carried out for the Library of Birmingham business case. There will be a fuller excavation before construction work for the new library begins, enabling a detailed record to be created. The potential for incorporating some of the features into the design for the new building will also be considered.

Listing of existing Central Library English Heritage have advised the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport that the Central Library meets the criteria for Grade II listing. The Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, Margaret Hodge, will now consider all the evidence and decide whether to grant immunity or to list the building. Further comments on immunity from listing.

The Library of Birmingham business case The Library of Birmingham business case sets out the details of the proposal, including information about the costs, funding and delivery programme. It is available to download - Library of Birmingham Business Case

Why does Birmingham need a new library? Birmingham's existing Central Library is the busiest public library in Britain and the city's most visited public building. However there are major problems with the building, which was built in the early 1970s. The fabric is in very poor condition and the design unsuitable for modern-day needs. The storage capacity and environment, and level of public access for archives, photography and rare printed collections are unacceptably poor given their national and international significance. The Library of Birmingham will provide an exceptional solution to this. For more Questions and Answers, see under Attachments below.