Library of Birmingham

I have photographed this building before it was finished and must admit I had my reservations weather it would fit in with Birmingham.

Designed by Dutch architect Francine Houben, she claimed the design represents Birmingham's industrial background amongst other features.

The library cost £189m to build and is set to be one the best places to source books and information anywhere in Europe.

Its most valuable books are copies of Shakespeare's First Folio and John James Audubon's Birds of America - worth between £6m and £7m each. It can hold 3,000 people, has nine floors (three of which are out of bounds to the public) and has a brown roof garden with a wild flower meadow.

Let's hope the effort and investment encourages more people to use libraries.

At some point I shall return to capture some pictures of the inside.

Couldn't decide if I preferred the colour or the B&W version.