library of birmingham visitor guide

7/30/2019 Library of Birmingham Visitor Guide

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The ICC &Symphony

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SnowHillStation

MoorStreetStation

NewStreetStation

Birmingham

Museum &Art Gallery

ColmoreCircus

St ChadsCircus

ParadiseCircus Council

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VictoriaSquare

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SuffolkStreetQueensw

ay

Holliday

StreetA

456B

road

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NewStreet

A457

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eensway

A38

A41

M5Junction 3

Five Ways

TownHall

Cycle

There are plenty o cycle racks inront o the Library on Centenary

Square. For inormation on cycle routesin the city, visit sustrans.org.uk orbirmingham.gov.uk.

Car

Birmingham is easily reached viathe M5, M6, M40 and M42. Follow

signs to Birmingham City Centre and the

ICC. From the South-West (M5), leavethe motorway at Junction 3, ollow the

A456 towards the city centre. From the

South (M40), South-East (M6), East (M69),or North-East (M42) ollow the M6 to

Junction 6, then the A38 towards theCity Centre. From the North-West (M6)or West (M54) ollow the M6 either to

Junction 7 then the A34 towardsBirmingham City Centre.

Parking

There is no parking available at

the Library public car parkscan be ound nearby at CambridgeStreet and the NIA.

Disabled parking

There are two bays or Blue Badgeholders on Cambridge Street

directly behind the Library on The REPside. Access to the ront entrance isalong the covered walkway on the east

side o the Library leading ontoCentenary Square. Further bays are

available in the Paradise Circus multi-storey car park on Cambridge Street.

Taxis

There are taxi ranks outside the

Hyatt Regency Hotel on Broad

Street and near the trafc island byKing Alreds Place and the ICC on

Cambridge Street.

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FACILITIES

& ACCESS

Getting around

The Library o Birmingham isdesigned to be highly accessible to

all. Getting around the building is easy,with a step-ree entrance and lits to all

oors, in addition to ramps, escalators,travelators and stairs.

Toilets

Toilets are available on

every oor.

Toilets or people who are disabled

RHThese are marked on the oorplans, which indicate whether

the toilet is positioned or transer

rom wheelchair to seat rom the letor the right.

Changing Places

A Changing Places acility is

available on the lower ground oor.

Induction loops

Induction loops to ampliy

speech or people with hearing

aids are ftted at all staed inormationdesks in the building and in the StudioTheatre. I requested in advance, we canalso provide induction loops in our

meeting rooms.

Parent and baby

Parent and baby rooms withchanging and eeding acilities are

available on the lower ground oor.

Changing acilities are also available on

levels 1 and 3. The Library is breasteeding-riendly throughout. Comortable

seating is available on every oor in thelounge areas.

Prams and buggies

Prams and buggies can be parked

in the designated area on theground oor. Please note that or the

saety o your child and others, we donot allow prams and buggies on theescalators or travelators.

For their saety, children should beaccompanied by a parent or carer whilstin the building, including in the

Childrens Library.

LockersLockers are available on everyoor 1 coin required.

Wif

Wif is available throughout thebuilding. This is ree to use,

with access to additional resources or

Library Members.

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EATING &

DRINKING

The Library Ca

The Library Ca on the groundoor serves a range o quality eat-in

and takeaway ood made rom Britishingredients, simply prepared andchanging seasonally. Extra seating is

available on the mezzanine level,overlooking Centenary Square. TheDiscovery Ca on oor 3 is also open

during peak times, with a selection oreshly prepared deli sandwiches and

hot and cold beverages.You are welcome to bring your own

rereshments into the Library, but we ask

you please only to consume these in theLounge areas on each oor. Vendingmachines or cold drinks and snacks are

also available in the Lounge areas.

Please use the recycling binsprovided or your rubbish. This

helps us to keep the Library clean andtidy or the comort o all our visitors.

SHOP

The Library Shop on the groundoor oers a range o quality,

unique gits and souvenirs o your visit to

the Library o Birmingham and the city, atprices to suit all pockets.

TOURIST & TRAVEL

INFORMATION

i

Birminghams only city centreTourist Inormation Centre is

located on the ground oor o theLibrary, oering inormation and ticketsor visitor attractions and travel in the city

and region.There is a dedicated Travel

Inormation Point in the Library oyer

where you can check timetables and the

latest travel inormation online.

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MAKING THE MOST

OF YOUR VISIT

BUILDING

HIGHLIGHTSTRAIL

1. Rotundas ViewStarting in the oyer, head towards the

glass balcony at the rear o Spotlight andlook up or a stunning view through theLibrarys rotunda spaces.

2. Digital Gallery

Make your way down the slope to

the let o Spotlight to Upper BookBrowse. From here you can view thelatest exhibition on our Digital Gallery,

positioned high on the blue wall. Do yourecognise the shape o the Gallery?

3. Amphitheatre

Continue down to the lower ground

oor, to the Music Library. Here, you canenter the glass-walled Amphitheatre,

and look up into Centenary Square. The

design o the Amphitheatre oor echoesthe distinctive rieze that wraps around

the Library.

Now head or the blue lits and

stairs to make your way to the

Knowledge Floor (level 2).

4. Book Rotunda

This impressive eature at the heart othe Library houses tens o thousands o

volumes and symbolises the importanceo the book or learning, inormation andculture. (A walk along the Book Rotunda

balconies gives urther views throughthe building.)

Next, take the escalators, lits

or stairs to the Discovery Floor

(level 3).)

5. Discovery Terrace

This beautiul elevated outdoor garden isthe ideal place to read a book, relax withriends and enjoy the views. The planting

is designed to give colour, scent andinterest throughout the year and includesherbs, ruit and vegetables.

6. Discovery GalleryThis is the venue or an exciting

programme o exhibitions showcasingthe Librarys archive, heritage and

photography collections, plus visitingexhibitions. See website or ask in theLibrary or details o the latest exhibition.

Next, take the escalators, lits or

stairs to the Archives, Heritage &Photography Floor (level 4).)

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Why not ollow

the sel-guidedBuilding HighlightsTrail to explorethe Library. The trailtakes about 1 hour.

FIRST TIMEVISITOR?


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7. Glass Lit

Rising through the upper part o theLibrarys central rotunda, the scenic littakes you in style up to the 7th oor.

Hidden rom view behind the rotundas

pristine white wall is the Librarysenvironmentally-controlled secure

storage, the golden box housing theLibrarys world-class archive, heritage

and photographic collections.

8. The Secret Garden

This garden terrace on the 7th oor ismore densely planted than the Discovery

Terrace and has a more secluded eel,with quiet places to sit high above thebustle o the city streets below.

Next, take the blue lits or stairs

up to level 9.)

9. Shakespeare Memorial Room

This original eature rom the citys

Victorian library was designed by JohnHenry Chamberlain in 1882. Since thenit has changed home twice, moving

to Central Library when it was built inthe early 1970s, and to the Library oBirmingham almost orty years later.

It originally housed the BirminghamShakespeare Library, which is still

available at the Library o Birmingham.The Room is wood panelled withglass printed shelves inspired by the

Elizabethan age with carvings, marquetryand metalwork representing birds,

owers and oliage. The woodwork is

by noted woodcarver Mr Barfeld, andthe brass and metal work is most likely

crated by Hardmans.

The Shakespeare Memorial Room has

been painstakingly reconstructed bylocal cratsmen A. Edmonds & Co. Ltdand the Victorian Cornice Company who

restored the elaborate ceiling. The books

and memorabilia you see on the shelvesare interesting items rom the Librarys

general collections (the Shakespearecollection outgrew the room as early

as 1906).

10. Skyline Viewpoint

This is the pinnacle o the Libraryo Birmingham, with stunning

panoramic views across the city. Youare now 51 metres above street leveland on a clear day can see as ar as

Shirley to the south, the Corley Hillsto the east and the Clent Hills to thewest. Use the digital toposcope or

inormation about other landmarksvisible rom Skyline Viewpoint.

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Tours are availableor groups andindividuals, andmust be pre-booked.

Please see websiteor ask in the Libraryor details.

PRE-BOOKABLELIBRARY TOURS


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Amphitheatre

MusicPracticeRooms

Beatbox

Childrens Library

Book Browse Upper

Middle Earth

Chill-outLoungeMusic

Library

MusicLibrary

Book Browse Lower

Story Steps

Reserveditems

Book

Browse

Lower

Toilets

RH

RH

RH

LH

LH

Amphitheatre

Childrens Library

Music Library

Book Browse

Beatbox

Middle Earth

Music Practice Rooms

Chill-out Lounge

Story Steps

LOWER GROUND

CHILDREN

& MUSIC

08

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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Reception

MAIN ENTRANCE

Library Caf(Extra seatingon Mezzanine)

Digital Gallery(View from Book Browse)

Library Shop

The Box

To The Repand toilets

Spotlight

Buggy Park

Studio Theatre

ENTRANCE

Slope

Lifts toMeetingRooms

Lifts & Stairs(up to Levels 19)

Book Browse Upper

LH

Reception

Library Shop

Library Caf

Book Browse Upper

Digital Gallery

Studio Theatre

Buggy Park

GROUND FLOOR

09

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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EnterpriseLounge

Soundbox

AdviceRoomsandBLIP

MeetingRooms110111

TrainingSuite

BusinessStart

Brainbox

Internet

Intern

et

Internet

Internet

Meeting Rooms101105

RH

RH

Business Start

Brainbox

Enterprise Lounge

Internet

Soundbox

Advice Rooms and BLIP

Training Suite

Meeting Rooms 101105 & 110111

FLOOR 1

BUSINESS,

LEARNING & HEALTH

10

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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Interne

t

Internet Internet

Study Rooms204205

Study Rooms206207

Study

Rooms

Conte

mplation

Room

Quiet Study Group Study

KnowledgeLounge

BOOK

ROT U

ND AInternet

Internet

Internet

20120

3

RH

RH

RH

Knowledge Lounge

Study Rooms 201207

Book Rotunda

Contemplation Room

FLOOR 2

KNOWLEDGE

11

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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BOOK

ROT U

ND A

Library Caf(Peak times only)

Short

sessioninternet

Discovery Gallery

BFIMediatheque

Discovery Terrace South views

StudyRooms308310

Eastvie

ws

TR

AVELAT

ORRH

LH

Discovery Gallery

Discovery Terrace

BFI Mediatheque

Book Rotunda

Library Caf

Study Rooms 308310

Short session internet

FLOOR 3

DISCOVERY

12

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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TR

AV

ELAT

OR

HeritageLounge

Reception

HeritageLearningSpace

WolfsonCentre forArchivalResearch

Glass liftto Floor 7

LH

Heritage Lounge

Heritage Learning Space

Reception Desk

Wolfson Centre for Archival Research

FLOOR 4

ARCHIVES,

HERITAGE &

PHOTOGRAPHY

13

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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Glass

liftWest views

North views

RH

FLOOR 7

THE SECRET

GARDEN

The Secret Garden

14

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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Brown roof

SkylineViewpoint

ShakespeareMemorialRoom

LH

FLOOR 9

SHAKESPEARE

MEMORIAL ROOM

Shakespeare Memorial Room

Skyline Viewpoint

15

Floor 3

Floor 2

Ground Floor

Floor 9

Floor 7

Floor 6

Floor 5

Floor 4

Lower Ground

Floor 1

STREET LEVEL

NON-PUBLIC

NON-PUBLIC

Floor 8NON-PUBLIC


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@libraryobham 0121 242 4242FOLLOW US ON TWITTER PHONE

EVENTS &

EXHIBITIONS

Look out or our programme o events,exhibitions and activities. Details o

whats on at the Library o Birmingham

and how to book are available on thewebsite and in the Library.

TICKETS

The Box is open 10am8pm Monday

Saturday (10am6pm when there is noevening perormance) or booking and

collecting tickets or Library events andshows at The REP.

LIBRARY ROOMS

& SPACES FOR HIRE

We have a varied range o meeting and

event spaces available or hire, rom the300-seat Studio Theatre and meeting

rooms, to the historic ShakespeareMemorial Room and Middle Earth, our

childrens activity rooms. See website orbooking inormation and prices.

THE GREEN LIBRARY

The Library o Birmingham has animportant role to play in cutting carbon

emissions in the city and the building hasbeen designed to minimise the impacton the environment.

Environmentally riendly eaturesinclude the use o low carbon technologyor heating and cooling, low energy

lighting and water conservation systems.

The Library recycles all used materialsincluding paper and plastic please

use the special bins provided.The two elevated garden terraces

the Discovery Terrace on level 3 and

The Secret Garden on level 7 providegreen spaces in the heart o the city.

They are planted with a variety ospecies to provide colour and interestthroughout the year. This includes ruit,

vegetables and herbs on the DiscoveryTerrace to provide a ocal point or

learning about where ood comes romand encouraging grow your own.

In ront o the Library, around theAmphitheatre in Centenary Square,an annual wildower meadow hasbeen planted (part o a wildower trail

in the city centres Westside). Thebest time to enjoy the wildowers is

between July and October. Togetherwith the brown roo (covered in rubble

rom the construction o the Library),these eatures provide new habitator wildlie.

The Library o Birmingham was

awarded BREEAM Excellent statusin 2013. BREEAM is the national

standard against which theenvironmental sustainability onew buildings is measured.

September20

13

Printedonrecycledpaper

containing100%p

ost-consumerwaste

library of birmingham visitor guide

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