03/09/2013

New Library Of Birmingham To Be Officially Opened

Malala Yousafzai will today officially open the new Library of Birmingham, a £189m building housing more than one million books, some 200 public access computers, an exhibition gallery, music rooms and theatres.

Yousafzai, a teenager from Pakistan, was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for promoting education for girls.

Following the incident, Malala was brought to Birmingham to receive treatment and has remained in the city, now attending school there.

The last book to be placed on the shelves of the new nine-story building will be Malala's own copy of Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist.

The library can accommodate up to 3,000 people and three of the library's nine floors are closed to the public.

(MH/JP)

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