Editing Birmingham Central Library (section)

===Later developments===
[[File:BCL 1970s.jpg|thumb|right|The curved facade of the Lending Library, circa 1975]]
The council failed to implement the original plan for Paradise Circus. Spending cuts led to the council's decision to sell off the land surrounding the library, ending the vision of a publicly financed and owned civic centre occupying the entire site.<ref name=R6/>

The 200 seat Library Theatre was built between the School of Music and the reference library block in 1983&ndash;86. The theatre was a [[Design–build|design and build]] scheme by Henry Boot Projects.<ref name=R6/> Although the design was in Madin's original plans, Madin did not approve of the design and build method and subsequently had no involvement in the building.<ref name=R6/> Chamberlain House and the Copthorne Hotel were built to the west of the library in 1985&ndash;87 by Leonard J. Multon & Partners with wedge shaped ends.<ref name=R2/>

To the north of the library, where an Athletic Institute was originally to stand, a six-storey office block was built in 1988&ndash;89 by Leonard J. Multon & Partners.<ref name=R2/> A footbridge connecting the library with [[Centenary Square]] was added as part of improvements to the square in 1988&ndash;89. The atrium was enclosed with a glass roof and screens by the [[City Architect of Birmingham|City Architect's Department]] in 1989&ndash;91.<ref name=R2/> The space below was named Paradise Forum, originally proposed as an alfresco eating and entertainment area, but eventually leased to property companies who sublet the units to shops and fast food outlet tenants. The uncompleted bus interchange became service areas for the tenants of Paradise Forum. In 1999 the whole of Paradise Forum was sold off to Argent now known as Argent (Property Development) Services LLP.

In 1999, a member of the public was almost hit by a small piece of concrete that fell from a cladding panel.<ref name=R5>{{Citation |url=http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/Images/brumlib.pdf |title=An appreciation of the Central Library a 20th entry Icon| publisher =thestirrer.co.uk}}</ref> Concerns over the condition of the pre-cast cladding panels required the installation of netting to retain any further erosion.<ref name=R5/> The entrance from Chamberlain Square was altered by the city's Urban Design team in 2001, creating a lobby and eliminating the effect of the original tall entrance hall.<ref name=R2/> In July 2010, the east side of the lending library was decorated with painted birds, the work of [[Lucy McLauchlan]].

The appearance of the library building was criticised, mostly on account of the staining of the cladding panels which were originally white and were never cleaned. [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]], in his 1988 television documentary and book ''[[A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture|A Vision of Britain]]'', described the building as resembling "a place where books are incinerated, not kept".<ref>Alastair Jamieson [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/5317802/The-Prince-of-Wales-on-architecture-his-10-monstrous-carbuncles.html "The Prince of Wales on architecture: his 10 'monstrous carbuncles'"], telegraph.co.uk, 13 May 2009</ref> In October 2011 the [[World Monuments Fund]] included the Central Library on its watch list of significant buildings at risk.<ref>[http://www.wmf.org/project/british-brutalism 2012 World Monuments Watch: British Brutalism], World Monuments Fund, Spring 2012.</ref>