Editing Manchester Central Library (section)

==Architecture==
[[File:Centrallibraryreadingroom.jpg|thumb|The central Wolfson Reading Room in 2021]]
[[File:Manchester Central Library 2014 re-opening 7891.JPG|thumb|180px|The Shakespeare Hall entrance in 2014]]
[[File:Manchester Central Library England.jpg|thumb|left|The exterior of the library]]
[[File:Manchester Central Library Ceiling - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|The ceiling in the entrance]]
Designed by architect Vincent Harris, the striking rotunda form of the library was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Like its 2nd-century model, the library is a round building fronted by a large two-storey [[portico]] which forms the main entrance on [[St Peter's Square, Manchester|St Peter's Square]], and is surrounded by five bays of [[Corinthian columns]]. Around the second and third floors is a [[Tuscan order|Tuscan]] [[colonnade]], topped by a band of unrelieved [[Portland stone]].

The pitched leaded roof appears from street level to be a dome, but this is only a surrounding roof. The dome that can be seen from within the Great Hall lies within this roof, and cannot be seen from the ground.<ref name="mcc_website">{{cite web |url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=500138&documentID=1212&pageNumber=5 |title=History of Central Library |access-date=7 March 2008 |website=Manchester City Council |at=Features of the Building |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307224927/http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=500138&documentID=1212&pageNumber=5 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On the first floor is the Great Hall, a large reading room topped by a dome. Much of the original furniture designed by the architect can be seen on this floor. Around the rim of the dome is an inscription from the [[Book of Proverbs]] in the [[Old Testament]]:<ref name="mcc_website"/>

{{Cquote|<small>Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her, she shall give of thine head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory she shall deliver to thee.<br /> Proverbs 4:7</small> ||}}

In former years, the dome's [[acoustics]] caused an [[echo]] problem, which repeated several times any short noise made in the room. Adding sound-absorbing material reduced this effect.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

The Shakespeare Hall is an ornate chamber displaying local heraldry and with large [[stained glass]] windows. The central window was designed by [[Robert Anning Bell]] and depicts [[William Shakespeare]] and scenes from his plays. Two side windows designed by [[George Kruger Gray]] depict the [[coats of arms]] of the City of Manchester, the [[Victoria University of Manchester|University of Manchester]], and the [[Duchy of Lancaster|County and Duchy of Lancaster]]. The windows were a memorial bequest to the library by Rosa E. Grindon (1848–1923), the widow of Manchester botanist [[Leo Grindon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://authorities.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?AuthRecID=7999274&v1=1&HC=1&SEQ=20100430095424&PID=c96ZLrRs1-FBO-Nv1Z87_HsNPf|title=Grindon, Rosa E. |publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref><ref>She was the author of ''Shakespeare & his plays from a woman's point of view'', published in 1930.</ref>

The ceiling decorations include the arms and crests of the Duchy of Lancaster, the [[See of York]], the [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|See of Manchester]], the City of Manchester, and [[Lancashire County Council]]. The walls of Shakespeare Hall are covered with [[Hopton Wood stone]] quarried in [[Derbyshire]]. On the walls are the arms of The [[Manchester Grammar School]], Manchester University, the [[Manchester Regiment]], [[Humphrey Chetham]], the Overseers of the Township, England, St. George, St. Mary (patron saint of Manchester), and over the memorial window, Shakespeare.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

On the left landing is a white [[marble]] statue, ''the Reading Girl'' by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Ciniselli. It was bought by the industrialist and promoter of the [[Manchester Ship Canal]], [[Daniel Adamson]]. The statue was presented to the library by his grandchildren, the Parkyn family, in 1938.<ref name="mcc_website"/>