A library is a cultural and educational institution that collects printed and manuscript materials, processes them, ensures their proper storage, and engages with readers. It is hard to imagine a town or city without these institutions. Libraries operate in many communities across the country, helping people to get an education, develop their careers, and enjoy interesting and informative leisure time. Today, we’re going to talk about the history of the Old Library in Liverpool. In the modern era, it is a community and charitable centre for childcare and more. Read more about it at liverpool1.one.
The Founding Story: How It All Began
The story of the Old Library, also known as the Lister Drive Library, began in 1905. It should be noted that the library building is Grade II listed.
In total, the construction of the library cost £13,000. Liverpool City Council approved the construction and recommended that it be named the ‘Andrew Carnegie Library’.
The building was constructed with brick walls dressed with stone and a slate roof. Above the main entrance, there was a tower and an oriel window.
On 27 June 1905, the library opened its doors to readers.
From a Library to a Community Centre
In 2006, the library was closed. This happened after a number of structural problems were discovered. The local newspaper, the Liverpool Echo, even wrote about it.
Ten years later, the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded Liverpool City Council a grant of £3.9 million. These funds were intended for the conversion of the library into a community centre.
The library building stood empty for over 10 years. In 2019, the City Council awarded a contract to the company HH Smith and Sons Ltd, and the restoration of the building began.
Initially, the cost of the work was estimated at three million pounds. The City Council was to provide £500,000, with the rest coming from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. However, the budget was later revised due to the need to replace timber and plasterwork. The completion date for the work was also extended.
The Modern Day
The renovated library building is now available for hire. It now houses a community centre for childcare, and also offers other community and commercial services. In 2022, the restored Old Library building was one of six winners of a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North West Award.
The Origins of Libraries
No one is surprised by libraries today, but did you know that the most ancient libraries existed as far back as the 18th–17th centuries BC?
Historians note that the earliest discovered library was in the city of Nippur. It operated within a temple and was founded around 2500 BC. This ancient library housed not books, but a collection of clay tablets.
It should be noted that the first libraries served as archives. They were also public centres that were involved in educating the population. Such reading rooms were often founded in cathedrals and monasteries.
During the Age of Enlightenment, many libraries were built at institutions of higher learning in cities such as Paris, Bologna, Padua, and Oxford. It should be added that it was only in the 18th century that books became widely available to the general population. The invention of printing had a significant impact on the development of librarianship. Library collections began to expand, and libraries themselves became even more popular.
So, there we have it. The Old Library of Liverpool no longer functions as a library, but a modern community and charitable centre now operates in its place. We hope you found this article informative and learned something new about your home city.