“There is, probably, no word of the human vocabulary which brings a greater crowd of thoughts to the educated man’s mind than that blessed word library; for a library is one of the greatest causes, as it is also one of the greatest results of man’s civilisation”– George Dawson, at the opening of the first Birmingham Central Library, 1866.
“This great library, which is the biggest library in Europe, has educated the people of Birmingham for decades and it will continue to enlighten future generations.
“As one said, a room without books is like a body without a soul.
“And I say ‘a city without a library is like a graveyard.”
Malala Yousufzai, legendary adopted daughter of the city who like me came to Birmingham and fell in love, albeit in a slightly different way, opening the current incarnation of the library in 2013.
The library has existed in several forms since 1866, when the back to backs were still lived in and Joe Chamberlain had yet to become mayor, and th present building dates from 2013.
From the wonderful secret garden on the library roof, you can revel in views like the BT Tower, constructed in 1967, and the skyline of the city and further afield including (8) Turners Hill.
From July 2016 and (2,4,7) December 2017, and from below in July 2016, (9, 10) the town hall, opened 1834.
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