papa lazarou asked
Does anyone have pics of what the street looked like with the library?? Also, is this building not next to the old railway line coming out of Buchanan Street to Garngad Train Station??
The ground to build the library was offered to Glasgow Corporation by the Caledonian Railway Company in 1904 for 25 shillings per square yard, so it must have been near operational railway land.
Had a rummage through the attic to find these rather poor quality snaps of the library while it was awaiting demolition.
Ironically this destruction was happening while the city was making preparations to celebrate being the UK City of Architecture in 1999!
Children’s entrance
End bay at General Reading Room
Main entrance and circus posters on windows at Ladies Reading Room
A 1907 floor plan shows the original layout of the library and its furnishings.
The Lending Library had a huge glazed dome to provide lots of natural light and the General Reading Room had large rooflights in the arched ceiling. This would have helped to create some great exhibition space had the decision been made to save the building.
1907 exterior view