MANCHESTER Central Library will re-open its doors to the public on Saturday 22 March 2014, nearly four years after it closed for refurbishment.
The long wait is nearly over to unveil a world-class library fit for the 21st century to our residents, partners and visitors
The library has been refurbished sensitively to enhance and improve its myriad original features, while also introducing the most up-to-date technology, as befits one of the country’s leading libraries.
The library will host exhibitions and events, a new performance space and a media lounge equipped with Apple Mac computers. Specialist business, music and children's libraries will all be based at Central Library, plus the Archives+ Centre, a destination of national and international significance for anyone interested in local or family history.
Clock's ticking down in the Reading Room
The only question is why is the Library not open like Manchester Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and the National Football Museum, seven days. Sunday would be a biggy.
Both the refurbished libraries of Liverpool and Birmingham are open seven days.
Apparently the reason is cuts.
Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, Councillor Jeff Smith, said: "Central Library will reopen to the public on Saturday 22 March, six days a week, with the same opening hours and times as it had before it closed - Monday to Thursday 9- 8pm and Friday to Saturday 9 - 5pm. This means that the Library will be open for 60 hours and for four evenings every week.
"Since the Library closed, we have faced unprecedented budget pressures, due to cuts in Government funding. As a consequence, we have had to reduce opening hours at our libraries and none are able to open seven days a week."
Maybe sometimes it's about priorities, obviously Liverpool and Birmingham have assessed theirs in a different way.
Enough of that. Here's the cute bit about the opening.
To celebrate Manchester Libraries are calling on children and young people from 4–18 to get creative for a commemorative postcard competition with the theme 'Central Library, past, present and future'.
The winning postcards will be printed and sent to all Manchester schoolchildren as a memento of the opening, mirroring the idea from 1934, when Central Library first opened and every schoolchild received a commemorative handkerchief.
Councillor Rosa Battle, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “The long wait is nearly over to unveil a world-class library fit for the 21st century to our residents, partners and visitors.
“We want to attract more young people, children and families to this truly magnificent library, which has so much more to offer young people in the digital age. The competition is a great way to get children involved in a historic project in the run up to the re-opening."
Library staff want to encourage children to look at all art mediums, not just traditional drawing or painting, paving the way for Lego enthusiasts, plasticine specialists and ceramic creators or photography students to get creative.
The only stipulation is that all entries must be received in 2D by the closing date, which is Friday 4 April 2014.
Further details can be found here.
Manchester Central Library will reopen Monday-Saturday, from Saturday 22 March 2014.
