This Week:

As our traineeship encourages site visits to other libraries and archives, Sophie and I headed into Manchester this week to visit Central Library and The Portico Library.

Central Library

Manchester’s Central Library has been on my list of places to visit for some time. It re-opened last year after a four year programme of refurbishment, costing over £40 million.

The building’s domed appearance is truly striking. It was designed by Emanuel Vincent Harris and is often compared to Emperor Hadrian’s Pantheon in Rome. The Library had an official Royal Opening in 1934 by King George V.

The refurbishment of Central Library has transformed the building into a modern facility, but it still maintains plenty of charm and tradition. The Wolfson Reading Room, which was full to bursting during our visit, is a fine example of traditional architecture brought to life. We were pleased to see that all…