Staff previews of the John Rylands Library, Deansgate

25 Apr 2007

An invitation to visit the refurbished library on 8 and 10 May

Dear Colleagues

The John Rylands Library, Deansgate has been closed for major re-furbishment since late 2003. As well as the construction of a new Entrance Wing, essential conservation work to the historic building has been completed and new exhibition galleries have been installed. Reader service re-started on 10 April. The exhibition galleries and the Historic Reading Room re-open to general visitors on Monday 14 May.

I am delighted to be able to announce that there will be two pre-view days for members of staff of The University of Manchester, on Tuesday 8 May and Thursday 10 May. You will be able to see exhibitions explaining the history of the Library and, in the Rylands Gallery, some of the most significant items from the collections. The Historic Reading Room has been restored and looks resplendent with its newly-cleaned statues of Mr and Mrs Rylands. On Tuesday 8 May there will be two performances of music written to celebrate the re-opening of the Library by MusM composition students from the School of Arts, Histories & Cultures. The performances will take place in the Historic Reading Room at 11.30am and 2pm.

The Library is situated on Deansgate in front of the new Magistrates' Courts building and will be open from 10am to 5pm. Please use the Spinningfield entrance and show your university staff card at the reception desk. Reader service will operate as normal.

We look forward to welcoming you.

With best wishes

Bill Simpson
University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library