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The Library of Birmingham

The Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square opened in September 2013 and was a £188m replacement for the city’s 1970s-built Central Library which was closed in July 2013. It is the largest public library in the UK and the largest public cultural space in Europe.

 

For the first time in years you can see the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery from Centenary Square

Video: Central Library demolition reaches new milestone

The museum has been hidden from the Broad Street area since the early 1970s but that area is set to be opened up

These 16 photos show how much Birmingham has changed since Google Streetview launched

Slide back and forth through time to see how new landmarks have brought a change of scenery to Birmingham city centre

English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), circa 1600.

The night Britain's biggest collection of Shakespeare's work went up in flames

On the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, the Library of Birmingham launches its own exhibition in his honour

Centenary Square revamp a '£10m vanity project' says Lib Dem leader

Labour cabinet warned new water feature would end up broken like the Floozie in the Jacuzzi

Inside the Action Space

Victoria Square to host Flatpack Film Festival screenings inside giant inflatable

What to expect at Flatpack Film Festival which returns to Birmingham for it tenth year

Central Library's demolition captured in incredible footage filmed by a drone

Drone footage captures demolition of former Birmingham library

Brussels attacks: Smethwick Gurdwara lit up in Belgian flag colours in show of solidarity

Guru Nanak Gurdwara turns black, yellow, then red for two days after terror attacks

Brussels attacks: Library of Birmingham lit with Belgian flag colours in tribute to terror victims

City's landmark library lit in black, gold and red in tribute after more than 30 killed in attacks on Brussels airport and metro

Rare works from Shakespeare to go on show in Birmingham for 400th anniversary

Free family friendly exhibition at Library of Birmingham to be launched as part of cultural partnership with the British Library

Europe's largest public library, the Library of Birmingham.

Library of Birmingham is most popular visitor attraction outside London

Almost 2 million people passed through its doors in 2015 despite opening hours row

The top videos for week ending March 4

Videos of the week: Villa star sells home, PCSO hit by car, library demolition

Take a look back at our top videos on the site from the past seven days

The atrium has been ripped out of the Central Library building

Watch: Milestone for Central Library demolition as atrium is torn down

Live video taken by the Mail shows the internal structure of the divisive building being ripped away in large chunks

Birmingham's so pretty even where Brummies 'do their business' looks good - as these stunning photos show

Birmingham is one good looking city and its Colmore Business District is not too shabby itself

Full size jail cell with prisoners to be erected at Library of Birmingham

Experience a replica prison cell and talk to the inmates in an arts project

The £189 milllion Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square, Birmingham city centre.

Global visitors enjoy Library of Birmingham's stunning views and free wi-fi

Library bosses publish map showing visitors from 30 countries giving the library the thumbs up despite cuts in opening hours

Visitors to Library of Birmingham plummet by a quarter

The library costs more than £70,000 a day with an average attendance of about 5,000

The top videos for week ending February 12

Videos of the week: Supermarket rat, library demolition, stunned Blues fan

Take a look back at our top videos on the site from the past seven days

Library of Birmingham might be unworkable - but that's no reason not to try

Agenda editor Graeme Brown said there needs to be an engaging vision for the costly attraction, as the council can't go it alone

Council cuts blamed as Library of Birmingham trust wound up

The Library of Birmingham Development Trust has been axed following a series of financial blows for the city’s top attraction

The latest stage of the demolition of Birmingham's Central Library, pictured in February 2016

WATCH: Timelapse video shows Central Library demolition progress in January

High reach excavators tore off tonnes of concrete from the exterior of the divisive building, which is being knocked down to make way for the Paradise regeneration scheme

Mike Whitby in front of the Library of Birmingham during its construction

Library of Birmingham Development Trust to be scrapped

Ambitious plans for the £187m library continue to unravel with fundraising arm set to be wound up

Birmingham in the 1990s

19 things you did in Birmingham in the 90s that you can't do now

What are your favourite memories of Birmingham in the 1990s? We look back at what life was like in the city back then

Finnish newspaper describes Birmingham as 'full of ugly buildings'

But Finland's national Helsingin Sanomat title says 'ugly' is a good thing

The progress of the demolition of the Central Library in Birmingham city centre.

Watch: Brutal end for Central Library as demolition steps up

Huge piles of rubble appear as one of Birmingham's most divisive buildings faces the end

21 leading young artists in the West Midlands to look out for in 2016

Bold, provocative and super-talented - meet the class of 2016

The Chamberlain Memorial at odds with the part demolished state of Central Library, opened in 1974 to a Brutalist design by architect John Madin.

Pictures: Birmingham Central Library demolition continues exposing floors to the elements

Large parts of the landmark 1974 Central Library have now been reduced to rubble as the site is cleared for the Paradise development

Free festive activities in and around Birmingham

Free Christmas things to do with the kids in and around Birmingham

Did you know you can enjoy festive sing-a-longs and family craft workshops for FREE throughout the Midlands?

Jackie Baker at Birmingham Children's Library children's section pictured on January 2, 1990, getting ready for a sale of 12,000 books at the library on January 6 that year

Remember when this was what a trip to Birmingham Library looked like

Are you one of the children, staff or visitors pictured in our look back at the city's old Central Library? Remember the women-only desks, book fairs and other events?

The Birmingham Central Library as demolition starts.

Brummies happy Central Library is being knocked down, Mail poll reveals

More than 1,500 people responded to a poll on our website about whether they were happy to see the back of the building - and the majority were

This mural by artist Lucy McLauchlan formed part of a series of exhibitions called Dead Space?

Todo es posible! Birmingham Central Library can still be saved say campaigners

The race is still on for listed status for the brutalist concrete building Birmingham city centre say action group Save the Birmingham Central Library

Videos & Photos

Watch: Workmates wrap up colleague's car in clingfilm for prank

Jailed in April: See our gallery of criminals locked-up last month

Shocking damage to vehicle

Shocking crash in Birmingham leaves several vehicles damaged and huge chunks of debris left on road

Journalists

Brian Dick
Birmingham City reporter
Gregg Evans
Aston Villa reporter
Bill Howell
West Bromwich Albion reporter
Paul Suart
Wolves reporter
Nick McCarthy
Crime Correspondent
Anuji Varma
Health Correspondent
Neil Elkes
Local Government Correspondent
Emma McKinney
Education Correspondent
Graham Young
Film writer
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