Liverpool Central Library is the largest of the 22 libraries in Liverpool, England, situated in the centre of the city.
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The library is located in several adjoining historic buildings on the city's historic William Brown Street. The library's first building was the William Brown Library and Museum building which was completed in 1860 and which it has always shared with the city's museum, now known as World Museum Liverpool. The library was then extended further to the right with the addition in 1879 of the Picton Reading Room and to the rear with the Hornby Library in 1906. All three of these buildings are Grade II* listed buildings and are built in a classical style similar to other buildings on the street.
In May 2008 it was announced that some of the complex of buildings that hold the Central Library will be demolished and replaced with modern buildings suitable for use with modern IT services. The historic buildings in the complex will be refurbished to provide modern facilities.[1] In October 2009 the proposed rebuild was shown to the public.[2]
The main library building on William Brown Street closed on 23 July 2010, while it is closed a temporary service will operate from next door on the second floor of Liverpool World Museum.[3]