Withington Library

Withington Library purpose‑built and funded partly from money donated by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, opened its doors on 30 May 1927.

The new building will have a children’s room, reading room and study room besides a fan-shaped library to be arranged on the open access system. This will give room enough for eight to ten thousand volumes. ... The site is a triangular one, flanked by Wilmslow Road and Withington Road, its apex looking down Palatine Road. Plans for the building, which will cover this space have not been offered for competition but have been prepared in the City Architect’s office. The main door will face south to the apex of the triangle and will lead into a hexagonal hall. On the arm to the right will lie the children’s room, and on the left the reading room. The library will occupy the remainder of the triangle except for spaces to be used as a librarian’s room and a study room. The two larger rooms are to be 63 feet long and 24 feet wide. The building will be single storey with a short flat-toped tower rising from the hall. The entrance block itself will be all of stone and a few feet lower than the rest of the building, which will be of brick with Portland stone dressings. The cost of the building has been estimated at £14,000. Towards this the Carnegie Trust has promised £5,000. [Manchester Guardian 13 November 1924 page 11]

 Reference           Manchester Guardian 13 November 1924 page 11