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I love the architecture of Withington Library alone never mind the mind altering contents.
In fact this building was designed by Manchester’s first city architect (Henry Price) who also designed Manchester’s famous Victoria baths as well as Didsbury library a few miles down the road. I couldn’t begin to describe it’s true style, but it’s frontage at least harks back to the classic Roman/Greek style (of course not on the scale of Manchester’s main library). It has recently reopened after a 3 month refurbishment although, and perhaps rightly so, they haven’t really done a great deal to it bar restore it’s natural charm. If you look up as you enter the building you’ll be treated to a wonderful glass dome above your head: in fact I’ve only just discovered this so whether it was ‘reanimated’ during it’s recent clean up I’m not entirely sure.

Inside they have an extensive section of computing; a large children’s area; books available in many, many languages e.g. Arabic, Bengali, French, Gujarati, Persian, Polish, Chinese…and others, easily creating for the area’s large cross section of society. There is also a good computer suite (always busy!) for accessing the net and studying should you need to.
I tend to hire my Murakami books here and if they don’t stock the title you’re after they’ll take your details and order it in for you. As it happens a guy who works there is fellow Murakami fan so he’s gotten most of his back catalogue for me.

Alongside the books they have a fairly extensive music collection (mainly CD) and DVD & Video’s – again they’ll order in anything you require (within reason : ) ).
I found a bit of Philip Glass and Brain Dance electronica, next to the likes of Bach, Hip Hop and Sade (she always finds her way into libraries doesn’t she?).
I might even take up the offer of ordering in Lost which I gave up on Sky last year…if there’s a cultural drought on I may just pop into the library and hire for a few weeks.

Open till 8 most nights of the week but closes early afternoon on Thursday.
There is a book reading group, a MP’s surgery and various coffee mornings held there too.