The Library of Birmingham: a landmark for books, Shakespeare and striking design

Few buildings sum up modern Birmingham quite like the Library of Birmingham. With its distinctive facade rising beside the Birmingham Rep on Centenary Square, it is a place to borrow a book, explore centuries of history or simply wander and admire the architecture.

The library opened on 3 September 2013, replacing the old Birmingham Central Library, and was formally opened by Malala Yousafzai. It was designed by Dutch architect Francine Houben of the practice Mecanoo, whose earlier work included the library at Delft University of Technology. Built between January 2010 and April 2013, the building stands about 60 metres tall, with ten floors above ground and one below.

The design was quickly recognised. It was named Architects' Journal Building of the Year 2013 and RIBA West Midlands Building of the Year 2014, and it was one of six buildings shortlisted for the 2014 Stirling Prize. Houben said: "It was a great privilege to design the Library of Birmingham."

Visitors flocked to see it, with around 2.7 million visits in its first year. Even in 2015, with 1.8 million visits, it was described as the most popular visitor attraction in the UK outside London.

Inside, the treasures are remarkable. The Shakespeare Memorial Room, designed in 1882 for the first Central Library, was carefully dismantled and moved to the top floor of the new building. It is home to what is described as Britain's most important Shakespeare collection, including a copy of the First Folio. The archives include the Boulton and Watt papers, the Bournville Village Trust archive and several important photographic collections.

The building has a quietly green side too, using groundwater from an aquifer for air conditioning. It also shares some facilities with the neighbouring Rep, which makes it easy to combine a visit with a show.

The full library service runs from 11am to 7pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 11am to 5pm Wednesday to Saturday, with an express service at other times. Public car parks are nearby at Cambridge Street and Arena Birmingham.

Opening hours, events and services are listed on the Birmingham City Council website.