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Liverpool Central Library unveiled after £50m regeneration

Following an impressive £50m regeneration project, Liverpool’s Central Library is due to open on Friday to coincide with the city’s arts and culture festival, Liverpool Light Night.

Work began on the scheme in 2010, and was fully completed on Tuesday. At its peak, 200 people were working on the project, with 43% of those employed coming from Merseyside.

Bdaily was allowed a sneak preview of the library before it is unveiled to the public, and we spoke to Joyce Little, head of libraries for Liverpool City Council, about the economic repercussions this project would have across the city:

“I think the Central Library being redeveloped in this part of the city which is a heritage site, and a cultural quarter, is the final jigsaw piece in this particular area.

“Of course we get so many visitors, we get the cruise ships coming in, and this will mean that people can visit the library and see the city.

“Of course everyone who comes to the city spends money here. And that is of huge economic advantage to Liverpool”

One million visitors are expected to come to the library in the first year of its opening, with 800,000 expected the year after.

The project is one of just two major library developments opening this year, and is the largest project of its kind in Europe.

The regeneration came about from a 27-year Private Finance Initiative between Liverpool City Council and Inspire Partnership, which is a consortia put together just for the project. Joyce went on to speak about how the partnership will work:

“Inspire Partnership are primarily [made up of] Amber Infrastructure, so they’re the people who bring in the private funding.

“The first two years of the scheme were for the demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment of the historical areas.

“Now we’re in the operational phase for 25 years. So the land is on lease to Inspire for 25 years. At the end of that period it comes back to the City Council.

“Inspire Partnership contract Cofely GDF Sewers, who are facilities management providers. They run the building, do all the maintenance, the security, the cleaning, all of the life-cycle in the building.

“Every piece of furniture and every shelf has a life on it. Maybe 10 years, 5 years, 25 years. At the end of the life cycle they replace it. So within the contract at the end of 25 years, the building will look as perfect as it does today.”

Not only will the new Central Library be of benefit for reading services, but it will also have advantages and support for businesses, employment and education. Joyce explained further:

“The old library was a failing building and it was being used less and less. The library services for all its residents and visitors are here to encourage reading, provide information, encourage children into reading, it’s a social meeting place, and it’s for people doing education courses so they can go on to gain employment.

“Of course we also support people who are starting new businesses. We have patents clinics, we have a partnership with the British Library, and we have an intellectual property centre.

“So all of those things put together show that having excellence in Library services in the centre of the city can support all of the people in Liverpool.”

The project has been a great success with the people who have viewed it so far, with British screenwriter and novelist, Frank Cottrell Boyce commenting:

“Coming to Liverpool Central Library is like going to meet your gran, and finding she’s turned into Beyonce.”

Author Jackie Kay also added:

“An uplifting bright building that intelligently offers sanctuary for serious study and a true sense of fun…The whole place filled me with a sense of awe and wonder. Just what truly brilliant libraries should do.”

Peter Millet, director of major projects for Shepherd Construction, who built the library, added his approval:

“It is great to see a culmination of our team’s work resulting in such a magnificent building being restored and developed.

“We’re proud to have worked on such a challenging project that has necessitated extremely close collaboration with the project team and our supply chain to overcome numerous hurdles.

“We look forward to seeing the library become a real landmark within Liverpool once again, as well as providing a fantastic 21st-century facility for the public.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .