Item no 20 + GD IN BVRGH + THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Central Library Conservation Plan Executive of the Council 30 November 2004 1. Purpose of report To inform the Executive of the findings of the Central Library Conservation Plan 2. Summary 2.1 The report describes the background to the Conservation Plan, presents its key findings and indicates how it can be progressed. 3. Background 3.1 A Conservation Plan is an approach to exploring the sustainable use of a cultural, or ecological asset. Its purpose is to establish and describe the historic importance of the asset and its setting: to analyse the effects of changes that have been made in the past; and to put forward policies for conservation, repair, and restoration of its historic character and features. 3.2 The Central Library conservation Plan is intended to advise future proposals for the Library and represents a first step towards Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland grant applications. 3.3 In commissioning the Conservation Plan, the Culture and Leisure Department saw it as an important first step in taking forward the work which started during the late 1980s to modernise and remodel the Central Library. 3.4 Opened in 1890, Edinburgh’s Carnegie Central Library is a landmark building, located close to the heart of the world heritage site. It is one of the Council’s major cultural assets, Its importance within the city’s cultural infrastructure is set to increase with Edinburgh’s designation as the first UNESCO City of Literature. 3.5 The Library contains unique collections of national importance centred on those of the Edinburgh Room and Scottish Library, and houses Scotland’s busiest lending library. Attracting over 500,000 visitors a year, the Library is used by residents, tourists and researchers from all over the world for its 1 information, study and research facilities. The Library provides one of the Council’s most popular services and is a much loved Edinburgh institution. 3.6 Throughout the 20th century the Central Library has adapted, altered and expanded its collections and services in response to changing needs. Recent successes have included the implementation of the People’s Network, providing the public with free Internet access, a fully equipped ICT Learning Centre and a gateway to digital and networked resources. 3.7 However, while the Library strives to meet changing needs and aspirations, it long has been recognised that the building complex must be modernised and radically remodelled, in order to rovide the services expected of the principal library for a capital city in the 21‘ Pcentury. 4. Main Report 4.1 The key findings of the Conservation Plan relate to: . Architectural and historical significance of the Central Library building . Central Library of today . Future focus . Conservation policies 4.2 A brief summary of each of these themes is given below. More detailed extracts from the Plan are contained in Appendix I. Architectural and historical significance of the Central Library Building 4.3 The current building complex comprises the original Andrew Carnegie Library and the neighbouring buildings at Nos 1 to 3 and Nos 9 and 9a George IV Bridge, together with the vaults under George IV Bridge. 4.4 The Conservation Plan describes the original Edinburgh Central Library as the best example of a Carnegie library in Scotland. It is an outstanding work by Sir George Washington Browne, one of the leading architects working in Scotland in the late 1gth century, which combines specialised planning with architectural exce Ilence. 4.5 The Study finds that the “Francois I” exterior of the library is virtually unchanged today and almost all of Browne’s major interior spaces remain largely intact. The domed Reference Reading Room is the finest of its type in Scotland and is an elegant, inspiring place in which to work. 4.6 The Library is currently listed Category I3 as a building of architectural and historic importance. On the evidence of the Study, it is considered to be of national importance and deserves to be upgraded to Category A. 2 Central Library Today 4.7 In describing the current facilities, condition, and appearance of the Central Library complex, the Study comments on the problems and challenges facing users and staff today. 4.8 Unique collections of national importance are housed in cramped and poor environmental conditions with very limited public access. Staff areas are cramped and inefficient. Basic mechanical and electrical services have reached, or are reaching, the end of their useful lives while the provision of ICT is inadequate for the needs of the 21" century. The lack of accessibility to major parts of the building, including collections and toilets, is a major problem for those users with ambulant disabilities. Future Focus 4.9 Before exploring how a Conservation Plan can make the Central Library, once again, a privilege to use, the Study considers what the role of a Library in the 21'' century should be. It describes new directions in library provision within the UK, including those at Norwich, Croydon, Ipswich, Dublin, Peckham and the re-development of the British Library Reading Room, which are widely regarded as setting standards of excellence that a landmark library must aspire to. 4.10 The Study then sets out a vision which senior management in the Library service have for Edinburgh Central Library. In the future, the Library should be a beacon of discovery and opportunity for everyone to access learning, information and cultural expression. Edinburgh's designation as the first UNESCO City of Literature has given a huge impetus to achieving this vision. A re-developed Central Library can become a centre for literature and a place for writers to meet at the heart of the City's literary quarter. Conservation Policies 4.11 The final section of the Conservation Plan presents the conservation policies which should inform development strategies for Central Library. It considers the overall Conservation Policy in relation to primary objectives, key issues and options for addressing these. Objectives 4.12 Given the importance of Central Library, the Study finds that the primary objective of the Conservation Policy must be: to ensure the long-term future of the George Washington Browne building by developing competent uses that allow the quality of its design to be revealed again and the building to continue providing a valuable public service as originally intended. Ideally, the building will continue as a library in some form and conservation work will allow users and staff, once again, to enjoy its facilities and 3 collections. This does not imply, automatically, that spaces within the building need to be restored to their original form or use. New uses and adaptations relevant to current and future needs, may be perfectly acceptable. Issues 4.13 The Study identifies the excessive pressure on the use of space within the Browne building as the key conservation issue that needs to be addressed. Reducing the intensity of usage will allow the major spaces to be re-presented and the necessary support spaces to function in an efficient manner. Issues including accessibility, user facilities and environmental controls should be addressed sensibly and comprehensively. Options 4.14 The Plan presents four principal options for addressing the key conservation issue. These are: . Specialise and focus on core collections within the Browne building and relocate others elsewhere . Focus on providing general lending collections within the Browne building and relocate specialised collections elsewhere. Expand the accommodation available to suit projected needs . Relocate all facilities and service elsewhere and use the Browne building for another purpose 4.15 The Study notes that a fifth option of maintaining the status quo is not really an option. As a minimum, additional space will be required to house growing collections, building services will require to be replaced and the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act will require to be dealt with. 4.16 The Conservation Plan concludes by stating that the choice of which option is appropriate will depend on the vision of the City Council and the financial resources available. It asserts that the Browne building has the potential to accommodate a “most potent agency” well into the 21‘ century, in a manner which acknowledges its importance as an historic building of the first importance whilst providing a valuable service to the citizens of Edinburgh. 5. Evaluation of Findings 5.1 The Conservation Plan presents the Council with a range of possibilities to transform the Central Library into a state of the art facility, appropriate to the City’s pre-eminence as a major world capital. 5.2 In identifying the options available for future development, the Study sets out a persuasive argument for retaining the original George Washington Browne building as a Library and restoring it to its former glory. 5.3 In particular, the option of extending the Library on the site behind the original building offers exciting possibilities for re-inventing the Central Library so that it meets the needs and aspirations of citizens and visitors in the 21’‘ century. 4 5.4 It is recognised, however, that each of the development strategies which the Conservation Plan asks the Council to consider will have significant funding and planning implications. 5.5 It is proposed, therefore] that to inform future decisions] the Conservation Plan should be progressed to a further stage and a detailed appraisal carried out of the possible ways available to develop the Central Library complex. Such an option appraisal would include indicative costs and consider potential funding opportunities. 5.6 The results of the detailed option appraisal should enable the Executive to decide on the most viable way of re-modelling the Central Library complex so that it becomes, once again, a flagship library for Edinburgh and Scotland, worthy of the aspirations of Andrew Carnegie and the City's Victorian forbears.