A historic library in Birmingham remains eerily frozen in time, its interior perfectly preserved three years after it was closed and declared surplus to requirements.
A Library in Limbo
Ladywood's Spring Hill Library initially shut its doors in December 2022, with the closure blamed on a temporary heating failure caused by ageing Victorian pipework. However, the Grade II-listed red brick building, situated next to a Tesco Superstore on Spring Hill, never reopened to the public.
Newly released images from the campaign group Birmingham Loves Libraries reveal a scene described as "like a time capsule." Books still fill the shelves, posters cling to noticeboards, and a sense of abrupt departure hangs in the air.
Community Hopes Dashed by Council Decision
Despite the severe financial troubles facing Birmingham City Council, there was lingering hope that the 132-year-old building would be restored as a functioning library. That optimism was officially crushed earlier this year when the council authority declared the building surplus and approved it for 'disposal'.
In a partial concession, the council agreed to maintain ownership of the property. It is now seeking a suitable organisation to take on a long-term lease, stating that proposals for community use are "welcome."
Birmingham historian Professor Carl Chinn commented on the loss, stating, "The Grade II-listed Spring Hill Library will not reopen as a library. It's another important local facility lost because of the cutbacks made by the council - cutbacks which disproportionately impact on already stressed working class neighbourhoods."
A Perfectly Preserved Time Capsule
Campaigner Rebecca Danks from Birmingham Loves Libraries visited the abandoned site and confirmed its pristine, yet haunting, state. The interior remains perfectly preserved, as if waiting for staff and members to return.
Ms Danks provided poignant details: "Books still line the shelves waiting for library members to come back and borrow them. The front desk and staff room are in a state of busy disarray as if the dedicated team could return at any moment. There's even a half-full box of sweets ready for the next children's event that will never take place."
She emphasised the broader impact of the closure, noting that in an area with one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country, the loss of this community hub is "truly shameful."
The campaign to highlight the library's value faced its own hurdles. During Birmingham Heritage Week, Prof Chinn and Ms Danks were not permitted to host a talk inside the building due to council health and safety concerns, instead holding the event in a room provided by the neighbouring Tesco.
Despite the disappointment, campaigners see a glimmer of hope in the council's commitment to a long lease for community use. The fight now continues to ensure this frozen piece of Birmingham's history finds a new purpose serving the public once again.
