The Library of Birmingham
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Latest News from the Library of Birmingham
including the launch of the Silent Movie Animation Challenge.
Six new 'Faces of the Library of Birmingham' announced
The Leader of Birmingham City Council, Mike Whitby, has announced the names of the six new Faces of the Library of Birmingham. They include a salsa-dancing linguist, a new media entrepreneur and a veteran of community work, and will join 11 previously announced Faces as honorary representatives of the Library of Birmingham.
Help us Rewrite the Book !
The Library of Birmingham is being designed with people in mind, and that’s why we’re looking for great characters to tell the story of this momentous project. We’ve already selected 17 faces of the library. Now it’s your chance to become involved with this amazing new era for Birmingham. Find out more about being a Face of the Library of Birmingham.
Central Library changes
Find out about more service changes we will need to make in Central Library while we are preparing to move to the Library of Birmingham. These will start on 12 December 2011.
Prime Ministers visit the site
Prime Minister, David Cameron and Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte on a recent visit to the Library of Birmingham site. They were shown a presentation by the Dutch architect, Francine Houben from Dutch company, Mecanoo.
Topping Out the Library of Birmingham
On 14 September 2011, Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, laid the last piece of concrete on the highest point of the new Library of Birmingham at the official Topping Out ceremony. This is a significant marker in the construction of the new £188.8 million building, due to open in 2013.
Mike Whitby was helped by Buta Singh Mahal, 34, from Smethwick, who has worked on the site since building work began in February 2010, when he first mixed the concrete for the foundations to be laid. He also mixed the concrete used for the Topping Out.
The celebration also marked the first performances in the Library’s outdoor amphitheatre in Centenary Square, with an appearance by Black Voices, led by Carol Pemberton, a Face of the new Library of Birmingham, and by members of the company from the REP, who performed extracts from Shakespeare.
Library of Birmingham videos
Video introduction to the Library of Birmingham
A computer-generated video tour of the Library of Birmingham by architects Mecanoo.Click to see video tour of the Library of Birmingham
Time Warp Video
October 2011
Latest time warp video of the building of the Library of Birmingham created by John Ford of Carillion plc. This latest time warp shows the addition of glass panels and filigree rings to the exterior of the building.
New ! Library of Birmingham Project Directory
. . . showing contractors working on the new library building.
Library of Birmingham Project Directory
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New ! Read the latest Library of Birmingham newsletter |
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Download the Library of Birmingham brochure
Library of Birmingham brochure |
Latest photographs of the Library of Birmingham site | Artist's impressions of the Library of Birmingham | The REP (Birmingham Repertory Theatre) | Find out what's on in Birmingham Central Library this month
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The Library of Birmingham blog on Birmingham Newsroom
Visit the Virtual Library - visit the library in the library!
The Library of Birmingham opens in summer 2013 but you don’t need to wait until then to walk round it. We’ve built the library in Second Life, an online virtual world and you – or your avatar – can visit the building now and have your say on how you’d like to use the service in the future. Find out more about the Virtual Library
Public Site Visits 2011-2012
This is your opportunity to come and see how the building is progressing and to talk to the constructors, Carillion.
Dates for 2012
Wed 8 February 8.30 - 9am Cancelled
Wed 22 February 4 - 4.30pm
Tuesday 13 March 10 - 10.30am
Monday 26 March 4 - 4.30pm
Wednesday 11 April 8.30 – 9am Cancelled
Wednesday 25 April 4 - 4.30pm
Tuesday 8 May 10 - 10.30am
Monday 28 May 4 - 4.30pm
Wednesday 13 June 8.30 – 9am
Wednesday 27 June 4 - 4.30pm
Tuesday 10 July 10 – 10.30am
Monday 23 July 4 - 4.30pm
Wednesday 8 August 8.30 – 9am
Wednesday 22 August 4 - 4.30pm
Tuesday 11 September 10 – 10.30am
Monday 24 September 4 - 4.30pm
Wednesday 10 October 8.30 – 9am
Wednesday 24 October 4 - 4.30pm
Tuesday 13 November 10 – 10.30am
Monday 26 November 4 - 4.30pm
Wednesday 12 December 8.30 – 9am
To book a place, please call 0121 464 2107. There are 15 spaces available for each date and people should meet outside the REP entrance to the site where they will be met by a member of staff.
Please note These visits are to look at the building from a "viewing platform" and not a full tour of the building.
Musical gems discovered at Birmingham Central Library
Preparations for the move to the new Library of Birmingham have uncovered what could be the UK's largest collection of silent movie scores, including a unique Charlie Chaplin theme tune. The collection, most of which belonged to movie theatre Musical Directors Louis Benson and HT Saunders, consists of 500 scores and parts for use with silent movies. It is representative of the entire oeuvre of silent movie music between 1915 and 1929, the golden age of the silent movie, and reveals what audiences at the time were listening to. Find out more about the Silent Movie Score Collection.
New ! Enter the Silent Movie Animation Challenge
Birmingham REP brings Theatre to life with Neighbourhood Libraries
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is joining forces with Birmingham Library and Archive Services to bring a range of theatre projects to six local libraries across the city. From Tolkien-inspired ‘audio walks’ in Hall Green to historical tales in the ruins of Weoley Castle, the project aims to bring some of Birmingham’s local stories to life. The Neighbourhood REP projects take place at a time when Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s home in Centenary Square is closed for re-development. The theatre will work in partnership with six of Birmingham’s community libraries: Springhill, Ward End, Weoley Castle, Harborne, Hall Green and Quinton. Each project will be inspired by the local people, history and community of the libraries and will give library users the chance to get involved, through playwriting, storytelling, performing or simply enjoying a performance.
Self Portrait Birmingham
New self-portrait project to take snapshot of Birmingham's people.
One of the original architects behind the 1979 Handsworth Self Portrait project, Brian Homer, is calling for people across Birmingham to submit their own self-portraits to help create a snapshot of the city's people in 2011. Called Self Portrait Birmingham, the project was commissioned by Birmingham City Council as part of the Library of Birmingham project. Find out more about Self Portrait Birmingham.
Public Consultation about the Terraces and Amphitheatre
The Library of Birmingham’s garden terraces and amphitheatre have been designed to be family-friendly, interactive outdoor spaces. They will be vibrant, environmentally friendly spaces for performance, socialising and informal learning - relaxing sanctuaries within the city centre. We wanted to tell the public about these features of the new library and ask how library customers and potential customers will want to use these areas. Read the results of this consultation:Terraces and Amphitheatre
Jacqueline Wilson visited Birmingham Young Readers festival and met a young 'Face of the Library of Birmingham'
Ellise Miles, one of our 'Faces of the Library of Birmingham' had a one-to-one conversation with Jacqueline ahead of the Festival Finale and asked her about her current work and future plans. Ellise said: “It was so exciting to meet Jacqueline Wilson today. Her book, My Sister Jodie, is my all time favourite, so it was brilliant to meet her and ask her some questions. Today was the best thing I’ve done so far as a Face of the Library of Birmingham. I can’t wait for the new library to open in 2013. It is going to have something for everyone and especially places for young people to hang out and meet their friends.”
Latest aerial view of site
Please click here for a larger version of the aerial view
The Library of Birmingham at the BBC Public Space
During the Easter and early May Bank Holiday period, members of the public young and old visited the BBC Birmingham Public Space in The Mailbox. They were invited to contribute their local knowledge and personal recollections of Birmingham in days gone by at www.thepeoplesarchive.org, which makes available online for the first time one of the Library’s most popular photographic collections, the Warwickshire Photographic Survey. This records in fascinating detail buildings, street scenes and events in the city between the 1880s and the late 20th century. This pilot of a new interactive historical resource, if successful, could be an exciting new feature of the Library of Birmingham online. More details about the People's Archive at the BBC.
New design images of the interior of the library
As the first anniversary of the start of building work at the Library of Birmingham approaches, new design images, produced by architects Mecanoo, offer a first look inside the building.
Please click on the picture for larger images.
David Cameron Puts Trust in Library
Prime Minister, David Cameron joined Leader of Birmingham City Council, Mike Whitby and Brian Gambles, Assistant Director, Culture at the Library of Birmingham site on 4 October 2010 to review progress on the landmark project and reveal plans to create a Library of Birmingham Development Trust. Find out more about the Prime Minister's visit to the Library of Birmingham site.Kevin McCloud visits site
In Birmingham to promote the opening of Grand Designs Live design guru, Kevin McCloud took time to visit our very own grand design, the Library of Birmingham site. Read an interview with Kevin McCloud by Ian Halstead.Culture Minister Ed Vaisey visits
Culture Minister Ed Vaisey visited the Library of Birmingham construction site on 5 October before moving on to view Face to Face, a major retrospective exhibition of one of our most illustrious photographers, Brian Griffin, in the city of his birth. Following the exhibition, Griffin will be donating work from the exhibition to Birmingham Central Library. This is an important addition to the library's world-class photographic collection which will be given a new home in the Library of Birmingham when it opens in 2013. Read more about Brian Griffin's Face to Face - www.briangriffin-facetoface.co.uk
New Partnership with Writing West Midlands
Local writers are set to benefit from a new collaboration announced between the Library of Birmingham and Writing West Midlands, the regional literature development agency. Recently appointed Birmingham Poet Laureate, Roy McFarlane, joined Project Director, Brian Gambles, and Director of the Birmingham Book Festival, Sara Beadle, at the site of the Library of Birmingham to unveil details of the new collaboration which will enable local writers to tap into a wealth of resources and activities shared by the two organisations. This latest literary link-up is part of the Library of Birmingham's strategy to forge a series of creative partnerships in the region and beyond by the time it opens in 2013. The partnership will generate a high-profile programme of literary events during the opening year and will see the Birmingham Book Festival adopt the Library of Birmingham as its new home.
Partnership announced between the Library of Birmingham and BFI Mediatheque
This exciting partnership will give free access to hours of classic films, television, documentaries and even home movies to visitors to the BFI Mediatheque. Many of the rarest and most extraordinary titles in the BFI National Archive will be available when the Library of Birmingham opens in 2013. Community Engagement
A big thank you to everyone who took part in a focus group or activity and for giving us your views on what you wanted in the new Library of Birmingham. This report shows how we have made changes to the design based on what you told us". Report on Community Engagement May - June 2009
Apprenticeships
The first nine apprenticeships have been awarded under a training and employment agreement between Birmingham City Council’s Employment Access Team (EAT) and Wolverhampton-based Carillion, the official contractor appointed to build the new library.
Archaeological dig unveils the past
Following successful completion of the archaeological excavation of the former car park site, the team from Birmingham Archaeology moved into the Centenary Square part of the Library of Birmingham site in November 2009. A public viewing platform, with a wheelchair and push-chair friendly ramp, enabled closer viewing of the site works as excavations continue. It also featured information panels about the history of the site. Two public open days took place in 2009, when archaeologists were on hand to explain to members of the public what the excavation was revealing. The archaeological excavation of the site has uncovered remains from the city’s industrial past not far below the car park surface. Archaeologists from the University of Birmingham recorded the canal arm and factory remains before construction work for the new library began.
The Civic Centre car park next to The REP closed permanently in July 2009 to enable the excavation to take place. Alternative car parking is available in other car parks nearby, including Brindley Drive multi-storey, Brunel Street multi-storey and the National Indoor Arena. Additional disabled parking bays have been created on the road in Brindley Drive (outside the multi-storey car park) .
You can download an information leaflet containing a map of the Council's car parks at www.birmingham.gov.uk/parking
Going underground for ‘green’ energy system
The Council’s construction partner for the Library of Birmingham, Carillion, has conducted preliminary tests for an aquifer ground source system, a renewable energy resource that will utilise ground water to supplement the energy source for the new library and provide chilled water to the air conditioning system. Using a production well, groundwater will be abstracted from an aquifer. Following heat rejection via a heat exchanger in the building, the groundwater will then be discharged back to the aquifer via an injection well. Constant groundwater temperature can thereby be maintained throughout the year with this open loop system. Two 150 metre-deep bore holes were drilled in Centenary Square and on the Cambridge Street side of The REP to check the suitability of the areas for the aquifer system. Preliminary trials to check the water flow rate concluded in November 2009. If the results are successful, the renewable energy resource will help the library greatly minimise its CO2 emissions.
Planning application approved
A detailed planning application for the Library of Birmingham was submitted to the local planning authority in August 2009. The planning application shows that the design for the new library has evolved but not significantly changed since the concept design was unveiled in April 2009. The height has been reduced by one level in response to consultation and other elements of the design have been refined, such as the amphitheatre and its relationship between the library and Centenary Square. The detailed design also confirms that the historic Shakespeare Memorial Room will be located in the roof level rotunda. On 26 November 2009 the Planning Committee agreed planning consent for the Library of Birmingham (subject to some conditions). Further detailed design work is continuing, with the detailed design work to RIBA Stage D completed this autumn. Summary of the planning application The full planning application is available at Planning Online. The number is 2009/03897/PA.Designs for Library of Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham will be situated on Centenary Square between the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP) and Baskerville House. The project will make a huge contribution to the regeneration of the city, creating 250 new construction jobs including 25 apprenticeships.
The library building will be joined to The REP at ground and mezzanine levels and will share the foyer, bars, restaurants and a new 300 seat studio theatre.
The large entrance canopy welcomes the visitor into the building which is characterised by circles - an amphitheatre below Centenary Square, the interior overlapping rotundas and on the outside the delicate filigree circles , inspired by the city’s tradition of craftsmanship and industry.
The journey through the building will be by escalators and travelators giving the visitor a constantly changing view lit by natural light. The design incorporates two outside terraces with magnificent views.
The library will be a cultural centre drawing visitors from all over the world and a second home for the city’s diverse communities. It is designed to be highly accessible to all - everyone will feel welcome and comfortable. It will be a community hub, reaching out to all parts of the city in an exchange of knowledge and ideas . . . a place to interact, a place to learn, study and a place to meet and take part in activities and events for families, businesses, groups and individuals of all ages. New technology will enable the city’s photographic and archive collections to be viewed and shared much more widely.
Mecanoo - the design team
The design team for the project is led by Mecanoo, an architectural practice which has received many awards and accolades for their stunning and innovative work.Mecanoo's director and founding partner, Francine Houben, is an outstanding architect who was recently voted Dutch business woman of the year because of her entrepreneurship, vision, business and social influence and leadership. Francine and her team have been working with the City Council on the Library of Birmingham since August 2008.
August 2008.
About the Library of Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham will 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.In 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 93 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 followed 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.
Where is the Library of Birmingham being built?
The development will include a new 300 seat studio theatre, meeting and conference rooms, plus cafe and restaurant facilities that will be used by both library and theatre visitors, with the two organisations working in partnership to deliver a diverse range of activities and events at this exceptional destination for culture. The development will boost and consolidate the continued regeneration of the city centre's Westside and the improvement of Centenary Square. Please click on the picture for a larger version.
Carillion - the City Council's construction partner for the Library of Birmingham
Carillion, the multi-national Wolverhampton-based construction company, has been appointed official contractor to build the Library of Birmingham.The multi-million pound construction and fit-out project will create an estimated 250 new jobs over the three year construction period. Carillion will work with the Council’s Employment Access Team to ensure that jobs created are accessible to those in the most deprived areas of the city.
Find out more about Carillion
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 Department for Culture, Media and Sport are now considering all the evidence and decide whether to grant immunity or to list the building. Update - 23 November 2009 - Culture Minister Margaret Hodge announced, during a visit to Birmingham, that the Central Library building has been granted immunity from listing. 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 CaseWhy 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. . .THE WORD Chapter 4
THE WORD Chapter Three
Strategic Design Brief
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