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Cardiff Central Library

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Cardiff Central Library is the main library of Cardiff, Wales. Four buildings have named as such, with the newest building opening on 14th March 2009.

The Old Library (1882 to 1988)

The original Central Library was opened at the top end of The Hayes in 1882 as a free library, school of science and art, museum and art gallery.[1] The building was further extended to the south fourteen years later, with a new south frontage designed by James, Seward & Thomas,[2] and was officially re-opened as the central library by the Prince of Wales on 27th July 1896.[3]

The Old Library (as it is now known) still exists, and is used as a museum and tourist information centre.[4]

St David's Centre (1988 to 2007)

The Central Library was moved to a new building located on Frederick Street linked to the original St. David's Centre development. The building was officially opened on 3rd December 1988,[5] and occupied the upper storeys of the commercial complex, accessed from a polygonal vestibule from shops at street level.[6]

This building was demolished in late 2007 together with the surrounding retail units to make way for Phase 2 of the St. David's Centre.[7]

Temporary building (2007 to 2009)

During the construction of the new library building, the library services were moved to temporary facilities, which were officially opened on 1st September 2007.[7] Comprised of two separate buildings adjoining the Welsh National Opera, the front overlooking Bute Street featured six-metre tall hoardings illustrating a number of books.[7]

Central Library (opened 2009)

The new Central Library building was opened on 14th March 2009, and is located on the Hayes opposite the St. David's Centre 2 development.[8] The building was specifically designed to be energy-efficient, and includes a sedum grass roof to improve insulation and reduce rainwater runoff, coloured glass panels and solar shading to prevent excessive heat gains, and a full Building Management System to provide climate control to individual floors. Due to these measures, the building was awarded a BREEAM rating of 'excellent'.[9]

References

  1. ^ Williams, Stewart (1980). Cardiff Yesterday: No. 1. Barry: Stewart Williams Publishers. ISBN 0 900807 40 7.
  2. ^ Williams, Stewart (1981). Cardiff Yesterday: No. 3. Barry: Stewart Williams Publishers. ISBN 0 900807 46 6.
  3. ^ Williams, Stewart (1984). Cardiff Yesterday: No. 9. Barry: Stewart Williams Publishers. ISBN 0 900807 62 8.
  4. ^ "Cardiff Museum". Cardiff County Council. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  5. ^ "Image of Cardiff". cardiffians.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  6. ^ Newman, James (1995). The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 0 14 071056 6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Cardiff's favourite books unveiled at temporary library". Cardiff County Council. 2007-08-29. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  8. ^ "Cardiff's new library unveiled". BBC News. 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  9. ^ "How the 'One Team' approach will help shape tomorrow". Infoworks. Q1 2008 (23). Laing O'Rourke: 22. Retrieved 2009-03-14.


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