Central Library Re-launches!

March 24, 2014

Central Library re-opened to the public on Saturday 22 March 2014 to over 5,000 excited and enthusiastic visitors. The building’s historic features have been sensitively and carefully restored, bringing the building up to 21st century standards, fit for a world class city. This major work, supported by the Central Library Development Trust, will ensure the long-term survival of one of our most iconic and much loved buildings.

Central Library is a place to:

Study and learn

The restored reading room will be a focal point for learning offering a quiet, comfortable and classical environment for study. Central Library will also offer formal and informal learning spaces as well as easier access to our vast reference collection plus more computers, scanning and printing facilities, free wifi and device charging.

Relax and enjoy

The library will be a unique space – the city’s living room – with a brand new lending library, new cafes, a bigger and better children’s library, performance, exhibition and creative spaces. You’ll find a place to meet friends in a relaxing environment.

Be inspired and get creative

The library will be a wonderful place for learning and creativity. Enjoy exhibitions and events and a new performance space. There will be exciting opportunities to experiment and create in the Media Lounge and Henry Watson Music Library. Central will also be home to a BFI Mediatheque with free access to the National Film Archive.

Find things out

Meet like minded people and come up with new ideas in the Business Information Centre. Rediscover the Treasures of Central Library. Explore the past in Archives+ and make use of a huge range of print and online resources in the library’s vast reference collections.

See history brought to life

Archives+ in Central Library will be a destination of national and international significance for anyone interested in local or family history. Working in partnership with other archive and family history providers in the region thousands of the city’s records are being brought together under one roof to create an unrivalled collection.

Manchester Central Library online poster shop offers a selection of posters from Central Library’s historic collections. The giclee prints on premium silk 240gsm paper make ideal Mancunian gifts.