History of Central Library

The library's rare books and special collections include all kinds of treasures, from our earliest book dating from the 13th century to a Shorthand Collection dating back to the 17th century, chapbooks and broadside ballads, almanacs and books on local dialects, a large Jewish collection, and an outstanding collection of Tracts described as "a major source for the study of British social and economic history".

The most famous Manchester Libraries collection is the 16,700 items donated by Dr Henry Watson in 1902. In 1911 the collection became the first subject department: the Henry Watson Music Library, and it has been growing ever since!

Henry Watson Music Library, 1955 m51076

Henry Watson Music Library publicity, 1964-1970 M740/8/18/4/4,5

"Only last week, forgetting I possessed a copy of Verdi's Macbeth of my own, I tried for one and they were all out. A very healthy and encouraging sign." (Sir John Barbirolli's speech at the opening of the Music Library, 16 Sep 1949)

"[The Henry Watson Music Library was] my second home when I was a student in Manchester - and, even more crucially, for three years between school and college when I had to earn a fitful living there. I could not afford scores and music in those days. If this library had not existed, I don't know how I could have held onto my dream of becoming a musician. I owe it so much ..." (Michael, in An Equal Music by Vikram Seth, 1999)

As well as special collections and rare books, Science and Humanities holds reference and lending stock on everything from history to business studies. It also includes the stock of the former Technical Library.

The General Readers' Library is a busy lending library on the ground floor of Central Library.

The Language and Literature Library grew out of the collections garnered by John Albert Green, the librarian from 1895 of the then independent Moss Side Library. Its material includes the Gaskell Collection; De Quincey Collection; and the Gleave Bronte Collection.

The Arts Library is probably the premier public library collection of material on art and design outside London . Its stock covers art and design, the performing arts and also sport and games. The Theatre Collection is held by the Arts Library.

Morrissey, former lead singer of The Smiths, once attempted to use the Language and Literature Library for an unofficial photo session. As he had not made any attempt to obtain permission beforehand he was asked to leave by the Librarian who did not know who he was. Morrissey had regularly used the department while swotting for his A Level examinations.

Manchester Local Studies Library holds a vast collection of printed material about the City of Manchester and its region. Manchester City Archives holds hundreds of collections of records - official, legal, religious, political, personal - relating to Manchester 's past.

Manchester Libraries has always looked after its visually impaired users - the Books for the Blind Collection was stored at Deansgate library until 1934. Now the Central Library VIP Unit, one of two VIP Units in the city, offers a range of services that help visually impaired users access information themselves or with the help of the unit's staff.

The Networks Centre is Manchester Libraries' main computer collection.

Commercial Library was opened in the new Royal Exchange in 1919 and was transferred into the new Central Library in 1934. The Commercial Library contains a wealth of up-to-date business-related information including one of the largest collections of market research and statistical resources in the north.

When the Manchester Chinese Library Service was set up in 1986 it was the first comprehensive Chinese library service in the UK .