Sunday 8 September 2013

Central Library, A New Gem for Liverpool

I prepared and filed this post a good while ago and forgot about it.
 It is especially for my good friends Dolores and Neet and for my family who live far away from the city.
 Dolores is a librarian in Slovenia and will love to see this.
 Neet will love to show her son all the Everton Memorabilia as he is an avid fan of this great football team.
I hope one day they will all be able to pay a visit here to see it for themselves.

Here's the glory of our recently opened new Central Library which encompasses old and new architecture so successfully. 
It is a wonderful worthwhile place to visit.
How impressive to walk into this.....


The old Picton Reading Room of the library renovated to all it's Victorian grandeur.
 It was built around 1879 and now links in so seamlessly to the new building.

I wanted to say "Sssshhhhhh!!!"

The new atrium leading on to a public observation piazza.

The view towards St George's Hall
Amongst some of the archives on display, a prize winning essay by Sir Paul McCartney when he was only 10 years old.
Who would have dreamed the future of this young lad on the left?
Everton Memorabilia

The library has a good cafe and excellent facilities for tracing family history.

14 comments:

fairy thoughts said...

WOW
Not sure which looks best the old or the new I know some people don't like mixing the two ( I love it) looks fantastic.
Thanks for sharing
Janet ...... Off to work now

Dotty Jo said...

Looks amazing! I plan to go and take a look at the new Birmingham Library this week, but its going to have to go some to look better than this! How wonderful that they have blended old and new together. The old Victorian Library was bulldozzed in Birmingham in the seventies to build the one they are currently knocking down. How nice that your old library was saved and remains such a jewel in the crown. Jo x

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

HI Jo, lovely to bump into you at the show in Harrogate :-)
Do you remember I mentioned having been to a line dancing weekend at the Adelphi? Well I met up with my sister on the Saturday and we visited the library; both parts are wonderful - the old and the new.
Hope you are well.
Anne xx

Lynne said...

Oh Jo this is wonderful, thanks so much for posting about it! The new library building looks incredible, but I have VEY fond memories of 'hanging out' at Picton Library as a 15/16 year old, studying but also keeping our eyes on the 'students'! A great asset to the City, it all looks beautiful. Lx

Tinkertaylor said...

How fabulous so much better than the dull libraries I remember as a child where you had to creep around and be so quiet. I've put this on my "must visit next time in Liverpool list"

sam21ski said...

OM Gosh Jo, this looks absolutely stunning. Fantastic photos, - TFS as ever.

Sam xxx

Words and Pictures said...

Good grief - what a brilliant piece of architecture, linking the old and the new, and each looking glorious. Thank you so much for sharing these photos...
Alison x

Helen said...

What a gorgeous building, mixing old with new - fabulous old library shelving and that gorgeous staircase - and all the modern new architecture! I didn't even mind you sharing the Everton memorabilia!!

Annie said...

Amazing pics Jo. Thanks for sharing them all.
Hugs,
Annie x

Lorraine said...

Its smashing isn't it Jo? Something to be really proud off. I visited earlier in the year, but I can't wait to go again. Lorraine xxx

Cardarian said...

Hello my dear friend!
THank you for this stunning collection of Liverpool library photos! When I come to Liverpool we must have a look at it - really amazing architecture! The display of books is fantastic too! Also love all the memorabilia! I just love all the light coming into the library something I very much miss in our library!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

Ann B said...

Gosh Jo, you have been busy with the camera and what a stunning building. Hope you are feeling a little more relaxed now.
Ann B

Neet said...

Thanks for pointing me to this Jo, have now sent it on. Love the Picton Library - what a fantastic building - a must visit.
Hugs, neet xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I've been trying to catch up on past posts, and this library, with its seamless architecture that takes us from past to future is beyond gorgeous. We have nothing this beautiful, and keeping the old really made my day. Not sure which I like more, but that old part is simply to die for with all that gorgeous wood.