Manchester Central Library and Civic Pride
Event Information
Description
Manchester Central Library was opened amid great pomp and ceremony by George V on 17 July 1934.
Costing almost £600,000, the library accommodated one million volumes and seated over 300 readers in the Great Hall, at the time making it only second in size only to the British Museum’s reading room. It was a grand gesture that aimed to engage with citizens and boost civic pride in the city.
This talk by Charlotte Wildman from the University of Manchester examines why Manchester Corporation invested in such an important civic monument as part of an ambitious programme of redevelopment. It suggests that the library was part of a wider strategy to use the city to engage with citizens at a time of potential social, political and economic turbulence.
Find out more about the full Manchester Histories Festival programme at www.manchesterhistories.co.uk or follow @mcrhistfest on Twitter and manchesterhistories on Facebook and Instagram.
Organiser People's History Museum & Manchester Histories
Organiser of Manchester Central Library and Civic Pride
Manchester Histories
Transforming lives through histories and heritage
Manchester Histories is a growing and dynamic charity. We work collaboratively with people, organisations and partners to reveal and celebrate the stories of the people and places that make up Greater Manchester. We connect people together to explore the past and shape the future through histories and heritage. Manchester Histories develops and delivers a biannual histories festival and a yearlong programme that includes projects, trainings, exhibitions, events, networks and more with people to recognise, explore and value histories.
