Birmingham Library

Leaving Birmingham I walked past the new Library on my way to New Street Station and a train ride back to Manchester. It wasn't hard to find the Secret Garden (a balcony quiet spot, not the book!) and a joy to rediscover the old Shakespeare Memorial Room which has been incorporated into the design of the ninth floor (the gold funnel in the photo). The Shakespeare Library has been relocated, wooden panel by wooden panel, several times from its original construction in 1882 and was nearly lost at one stage. I remember visiting it in the old central Library in the late 1960s when I was a student. Good to see again.