Scotland’s $2-million National Library
Expansion Plan Shelved
A $2-million plan to expand the National Library of Scotland—one of three United Kingdom libraries that house a copy of every book and magazine published in Britain—into a national information and literary center has been shelved after Cultural Minister Lord Watson told library chiefs that for “a number of reasons” the funding was not available.
Library officials proposed moving into the former Edinburgh city council headquarters on George IV Bridge, part of $40 million in property city officials hope to sell to fund a new council headquarters. The five-story building is located across the street from the library’s current 1930s George IV Bridge building. The new facility would have offered space for such features as a public auditorium and programming by other organizations, the October 15 Edinburgh Evening News reported.
Library officials are now proposing an extension in the nearby Cowgate area and the purchase of the Baden Powell House, another council office building, for use as an education center to host school and family- and local-history groups. “The National Library is one of the great treasures,” librarian and Liberal Democrat councilor Moyra Forrest said. “I think Scottish Parliament perhaps doesn’t value libraries as much as it should.”
Posted October 21, 2002.
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