Cardiff Free Library
| Cardiff Central Library | |
|---|---|
| Llyfrgell Ganolog Caerdydd | |
The Alliance sculpture in front of
Cardiff Central Library. |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Sustainable architecture |
| Address | Mill Lane, Cardiff, CF10 1FL |
| Coordinates | 51°28′40″N 3°10′32″W / 51.477860°N 3.175470°WCoordinates: 51°28′40″N 3°10′32″W / 51.477860°N 3.175470°W |
| Construction started | May 2007 |
| Completed | 30 January 2009 |
| Inaugurated | 14 March 2009 |
| Cost | £13.5 million |
| Owner | Cardiff County Council |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6 |
| Floor area | 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | BDP Architects |
| Services engineer | Crown House Technology |
| Main contractor | Laing O'Rourke |
Cardiff Central Library (Welsh: Llyfrgell Ganolog Caerdydd), is the main library in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales. Four buildings have been named as such, with the newest building opening on 14 March 2009 and officially being opened a few months later on 18 June 2009 by the Manic Street Preachers. The first Cardiff library was opened in 1861 as the Cardiff Free Library, later expanded and known as the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art.
In 1861, a free library was set up by voluntary subscription above the St Mary Street entrance to the Royal Arcade in Cardiff. By 1862, the Public Libraries Act of 1855 allowed local councils with 5,000 inhabitants or more to raise a rate of one penny in the pound to provide a public library. Cardiff was the first town in Wales to establish a public library.
Two years later in 1864, the library had moved to bigger premises in the now demolished YMCA building in St Mary Street. A School of Science and Art and a small museum was also added, and so it became known as the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art.
The Old Library is located at the northern end of The Hayes. A public holiday was declared when it was opened on 31 May 1882 by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Alfred Thomas as the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art, which included an art gallery. A competition was held to choose a design for the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art. The winning design was by architects James, Seward and Thomas, erected for just over £9,000. The Schools of Science and Art were housed in the building until 1890 when it moved to buildings that were part of the University College.
The building was further extended to the south fourteen years later, with a new south frontage designed by James, Seward & Thomas, and was officially re-opened as the Central Library by the Prince of Wales on 27 July 1896.
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