Liverpool’s Central Library has welcomed its two millionth visitor since it re-opened nearly three years ago.
The library opened its doors in May 2013 following an extensive two year refurbishment.
Earlier this month Jane Hedges and her four year old daughter Emily became the two millionth visitors. As a special treat, mother and daughter will head back to the library tomorrow (Friday 19 February) at 3pm to receive a special tour of the library by Assistant Mayor Councillor Wendy Simon and library manager David Stoker, including a sneak peek in restricted areas, topping off the visit off with tea and cake in the café.
Jane, who lives in the city centre, said:
“We love to come to Central Library and in particular, the children’s library.
“There is a relaxed atmosphere in which to encourage your child’s love of books and it’s reassuring to know that if they make a little noise there’s no problem!
“There is a good choice of books and they’re in good condition. Emily has been a member of the library since she was three and although she has lots of her own books at home, she likes us to pick and borrow a book on every visit.”
The library originally opened in 1860, and the latest work saw a new five-storey library fully reconstructed behind its Grade II* listed façade. As part of the redevelopment, a new entrance was created on William Brown Street, a stunning new atrium with a domed roof to mirror the Picton Roof was built and a specialist climate-controlled repository to store the city’s archives and rare treasures.
Regarded as one of the top ‘Things To Do’ by Trip Advisor with a top five star rating, Central Library attracted more than 741,000 people last year and has scooped a number of awards. It has also been voted as one of the top ten libraries in the world in a national BBC poll.
Councillor Simon said:
“We’re delighted to have welcomed two million visitors to Central Library and it was an interesting couple of days for the library team as they monitored the automatic counter to make sure we didn’t miss our special milestone visitors!
“Jane and Emily are regular library-users and so I’m really pleased David and I can give them a behind the scenes tour and treat them to some cake afterwards.
“The restoration was a resounding success – for us it wasn’t just about bringing a venue back in use, it was about investing in the heritage of the city, and the reaction we’ve had from members of the public has been incredibly overwhelming. All age groups come to enjoy the building which is also buzzing with activities and events.
“Visits to Central Library are increasing year on year, bucking the national trend, and if it continues, we look forward to celebrating the three millionth visitor very soon!”