Heritage Grants
It also focused on improving physical access and facilities for visitors with the addition of a new entrance wing.
The Library was founded in the late 1800s and is housed in a building designed by Basil Champneys. It is regarded as an outstanding example of Victorian Neo-Gothic architecture. The collections include 700,000 printed books and manuscripts including works by Gutenberg, Caxton and printed works from the Italian Renaissance.
The proposals were designed to ensure that the historic fabric of the building is conserved and that the building and its collections remain relevant and welcoming to its 21st-century visitors. Conservation work included restoring the library building and installing a new pitched roof over the Reading Room, which was built to the original, unexecuted design of Basil Champneys.
Plans also included building a new entrance wing to provide level access for all visitors, improved book storage facilities, and a more welcoming reception point.
New exhibition displays were also created to make the collections accessible to a much wider audience.