Library of Birmingham

Shakespeare Memorial Room: Designed in 1882, this Memorial Room is home to Britain’s most important Shakespeare collection, with 43,000 books. Exceptionally rare copies of the First Folio (1623), plays printed before the eighteenth century and quartos are housed in this collection. Adaptations, individual editions, Collected Works and other Shakespearean gems are also found in this exquisitely designed room.

Boulton and Watt Archives: This collection is a history buff’s dream, documenting the steam engine partnership of Matthew Boulton and James Watt. Peruse 550 volumes of books, 20,000 letters and 29,000 engine sketches that eventually took over the entire continent and cemented Britain’s superiority during the Industrial Revolution.

Charles Parker Archive: This archive houses scripts, tapes, and production books of the legendary British radio host Charles Parker, and is a goldmine of information on the folk culture, music and sociopolitical issues of the mid-twentieth century.

Parker Collection of Children’s Books: This interesting collection comprises of children’s books, toys, board games and dolls from the Edwardian period and Victorian period. Richly illustrated books on virtues and fantastical parables, moving picture books on etiquette, Victorian dolls, and board games make this a fascinating display.  

Newspaper collection: Trace the origin of the first modern newspaper with an impressive newspaper archive dating from the mid-eighteenth century, available both on microfilm and original print.

Music collection: The Library pays an ode to Birmingham with a large collection of sheet music, original scores, and recordings on music relating to the city.

Wingate Bett Transport Ticket Collection: Perfect for trivia enthusiasts, this exhibit has over one million tickets from all around the world, documenting the evolution of the travel industry – from trams, buses, and trains to airplanes and ski lifts – spanning a hundred years.  

Railway and Canal Historical Society Library: This exhaustive collection on the history of transport and canal building has everything about how trains ran the world, with books from the eighteenth century.

Warwickshire Photography Survey Archive: Conceived by Harrison and Stone, the Warwickshire survey brings to light the truth of the Industrial Revolution and how it transformed the face of Birmingham. Over 20,000 photos document the transformation of the area from village to a bustling city over a period of three centuries.

National Films Archive: The British Film Institute Mediatheque, in collaboration with the Library, provides exclusive access to the National Films Archives, where original prints of the stalwarts of English cinema are available.

Medallions: Two Coade stone medallions from the 1770s depicting William Shakespeare and David Garrick are on display, from Birmingham’s Theatre Royal.

Photograph galleries: The Library is home to comprehensive collections of some of the most famous English photographers, including Sir Benjamin Stone, John Blakemore, and Val Williams.

There are two stunning garden terraces at the Library of Birmingham – the Discovery Terrace and The Secret Garden.

Discovery Terrace on level 3 is tastefully designed to house herbs, fruit, and vegetables that encourages visitors to learn how to grow their own produce.

Secret Garden on level 7 has a selection of roses, orchids, and ferns that add a pop of colour to the cityscape all year round. With gorgeous views of the city from the viewing gallery and a range of biodiversity, the garden terraces are a must-visit.

Conceived in 2009 and opened to the public in 2013, the Library of Birmingham boasts of an impressive façade designed by Mecanoo. The gift box-like stacked design with circular metallic patterns adds a unique dimension to the Birmingham skyline. The Library underwent many location changes before finally being built at Centenary Square. Formally inaugurated by Malala Youzafzai, it is now the largest public library in the United Kingdom. The architecture is especially stunning – pay attention to the juxtaposition between light, shadow and the motifs of circles and squares throughout the building.

The Library of Birmingham is located at Centenary Square, Broad Street.

Train: The nearest train station is at New Street, which is 10 minutes away. Snow Hill Station is 15 minutes away. There are trains available every 10 minutes. There is also an option to get down at Five Ways or Moor Street and follow the signs to the Library.

Bus: Buses 9, 829, 22, 29, 13, and 12A ply to Broad Street. The Library is a 2 minute walk away. A single ticket costs GBP 2.40 while a day pass costs GBP 4.50.

Car: Take the M5, M6, M40 or M42 to reach Birmingham City Centre, and follow the signs to the Library. Car parking is not available at the Library, but public car parks are available 2 minutes away, at Arena Birmingham and Cambridge Street.

Taxi: For prices starting at GBP 3.50, take a taxi to the Library and get down near Hyatt Residency Hotel.

Cycle: Rent a cycle for prices starting from GBP 20 per day. There are racks in front of the Library where one can safely park.