Webcam
Watch the demolition and construction of the City Library on our webcam
Watch a timelapse video of the construction of the steelwork of the City Library
Watch a time lapse video of the demolition of the City Library
4 September 2006 - Enquiry desk with public computers opens in the Civic Centre Customer Service Centre
19 February 2007 – work started on the City Library site
April to July 2007 – demolition of old City Library
Spring 2009 - New City Library completed
Summer 2009 - New City Library opens
We will continue to provide you with as many services as possible through alternative venues and media.
City Centre Services Map (pdf 703kb opens in new window) This map shows where you can access some of our services listed below.
- Local Studies and Family History Centre relocated to the Exhibition Hall, off Ceremonial Way, Civic Centre.
- Reference, Information and Research Service
Enquiry points and Peoples Network computers are available at Civic Centre Customer Service Centre, Sandyford Road - Mobile Library in Grainger Street, beside the Monument every Wednesday and Thursday, 9.30am to 6.00pm.
- Patents Advice Centre at the Northumbria University Library, Sandyford Road.
- Tourist Information Centre, Central Arcade. A small collection of fiction books are available for loan.
- Literary and Philosophical Library, Westgate Road for current magazines and daily newspapers.
- Enhanced on-line reference resources including: Encyclopaedia Britannica, the Oxford English Dictionary and Groves Music and Art.
There will also be extended opening hours from Monday 2nd October 2006 at East End, Fenham, Gosforth and Jesmond libraries:
- Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm
- Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm
- Sunday 10am to 2pm
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More Details of the New City Library Project
Kajima was appointed in May 2006 as the City Council's preferred bidder for the new City Library and High Heaton Library, which are both being rebuilt as part of a £40.2m private finance initiative (PFI) project. After further negotiations, approval of the revised planning submission for the City Library and commercial close, work started on the Princess Square site in February 2007.
Tony Durcan, Head of Culture, Libraries and Lifelong Learning at Newcastle City Council, said at the time of the preferred bidder announcement:
- "Following a detailed and thorough evaluation of bids from Kajima and Information Resources, we are confident that the Kajima proposals offer the best solution for the city."
- "This was a difficult decision as the two remaining bids were both of an extremely high standard and we thank both bidders for their work in submitting such high quality proposals."
- "This is an exciting time for Newcastle's library service and we look forward to working with Kajima on the development of new state-of-the-art facilities that will benefit everyone living and working in Newcastle."
Both the City Library and High Heaton Library will be demolished and rebuilt on their existing sites, with interim services provided while work is carried out. Newcastle City Library is already the most significant public library between Leeds and Edinburgh. The new City Library will make an even greater conribution to library services in Newcastle, the region and beyond.
Kajima's proposals for the new City Library include: 
- A new main entrance on New Bridge Street, making the library highly visible from the Monument, as well as an entrance from Princess Square.
- A large atrium that will allow natural light to flood the building.
- A range of existing and new facilities over six floors, with a main staircase that will lead visitors on a 'journey' to the top of the building, which will include a platform with views across the city.
- Separate areas for children and young people, informal seating and quiet study areas, a 200-seat performance space and meeting rooms for use by community groups.
- Improvements to Princess Square to create a vibrant urban square and wider pavements and tree-planting along New Bridge Street and John Dobson Street.
- Environmentally friendly features such as low-energy heating and cooling systems, harvesting of rain water and use of renewable energy sources.
The Executive Member for Culture, Heritage, Libraries and Sport at Newcastle City Council, said:
- "This is a hugely important project which will deliver outstanding public library facilities for people in Newcastle."
- "The proposals for the new libraries are exciting and imaginative and the new buildings will be a major asset to the city."
- "We are delighted to be working with Kajima and look forward to the eventual opening of the new libraries with eager anticipation."
The designs were drawn up by Newcastle architects Ryder HKS and the libraries will be built by Gateshead-based Tolent Construction, which are part of the consortium led by Kajima Partnerships.
Ian Kennedy, lead architect on the project, said:
- "We wanted the City Library to be a symbol of creative design and a model of 21st century library facilities. "It will provide broad access to knowledge and other cultural resources and it will celebrate lifelong learning and social inclusion."
- "It will be a delight to use, visit and pass by, inspiring local, civic and regional pride."
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The new City and High Heaton libraries will be delivered as a private finance initiative (PFI) scheme. Newcastle City Council has been awarded £40.2m of PFI credits by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to support the project.
The consortium chosen to build and maintain the libraries is led by the European subsidiary of Kajima Corporation, an international property and construction company based in Tokyo. Kajima, which has offices in Newcastle, already has two library PFI projects underway in Japan, as well as a number of projects in the UK, including in the North East.
Tolent Construction is committed to the Considerate Contractor scheme and will be working closely with the council, local residents and traders to minimise disruption during demolition and construction work.
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What people said about the City Library proposals
The transparency of the Kajima building will allow the activities within the building to be partially visible, enticing people to want to join in.” – Alexi Marmot, the project’s Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Enabler.
The following comments were submitted as part of the consultation carried out with library customers, staff and community groups.
- “I would use the library a lot more if this was built. It would be somewhere I could spend time comfortably and relax with a book.” – Customer comment.
- “A wonderful building in which I would be pleased to work”. – Librarian Pauline Jobe.
- “This will enhance the area very well. It’s new and light but not quirky.” – Bewick Court resident.
- “The access is much improved on the current library.” – Representative from a disability organisation.
- “It would be easy for me to go inside and find what I wanted.” – A disabled library customer.
- “It has lots of space inside for young people and it’s easy to see everything inside from the outside.” – A young library customer.
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an attractive, visible and easy to use building- more space for customers
- display of heritage treasures
- easier to find books and more of them
- space for events and performances
- bigger and better space for children and young people
- staff on hand to help, not behind counters
- improved facilities for meetings and community use
- the latest equipment
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New City Library Team
PO Box 88, Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE99 1DX
Phone: 0845 002 0336 or
E-mail: newcitylibrary@newcastle.gov.uk