Manchester Central Library

Manchester Central Library stands on St Peter's Square in the centre of Manchester, England, and is one of the city's most distinctive buildings. Opened in 1934, the circular neoclassical structure, with its portico of Corinthian columns and a domed roof, was designed by E Vincent Harris and is modelled on the Pantheon in Rome. It reopened in 2014 after a major refurbishment that restored the historic interiors and added new spaces. The Wolfson Reading Room, a domed circular hall with rows of wooden desks, is the highlight, and visitors can see it for free. The library holds extensive archives of city records, local history collections, family history resources and a large public lending and reference service. Exhibition spaces and a cafe are also on site. Entry is free. Opening hours should be checked on the website, but the library typically opens daytime Monday to Saturday with shorter hours on Sunday. A visit to see the building and reading room takes about 45 minutes, longer for those who use the archives. Weekday mornings are generally the quietest, as the library is a working study space and can fill with students later in the day. Visitors should keep noise low in reading areas and respect people who are studying. Metrolink St Peter's Square is a one-minute walk away, and Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square and the Midland Hotel are close by. Photographers find the exterior best from St Peter's Square, where the dome and columns fill the frame, while inside the reading room's symmetrical desks and lights make an elegant subject, subject to library rules on photography.