What makes a 220-year old library? Is it the books? Is it the history? Is it the building? Is it the people who walked through the doors? The readers? The staff? Or is it the feeling you have when you enter?
An exhibition, with new archival finds, explores the idea of the Portico Library – in the heart of Manchester – as a box that holds memories. A place to look back in time for more than two centuries and a place to imagine what a library could be like in the future.
Dr Debbie Challis from the Portico Library said: “As the Portico Reunited team prepares its Delivery Phase submission to The National Lottery Heritage Fund to transform the historic library, we have opened dusty boxes in the archive, explored the nooks and crannies of our Library and discovered forgotten stories. We’ve borrowed Thomas Harrison’s original design for the front of the building from Cheshire Archives, read Librarian Harry Tinsley Pratt’s 1909 poem on the library, found ghostly drawings by members in books and learnt about the Keeper of Rooms. A selection of these archival items will be on show in this new exhibition, and visitors are warmly invited to find their own stories within the historic building.”
The old brings new creativity too. Hathaikan Kongaunruan, a sculpture artist based in Manchester, has been commissioned to create a work inspired by the Portico Library’s original 220 years old receipt book, and Pam Galloway, published author and a member of the Portico, has been commissioned to write a new poem.
Visitors also have a chance to take part in the Time Capsule project: writing their own memory of the Portico on a postcard, which will be stored in the archive and opened in the year 2076.
The exhibition is curated by Apapat Jai-in Glynn.
With thanks to Hathaikan Kongaunruan, Pamela Galloway and Charlotte Coull, Cheshire Archives and the Chester Archaeological Society, and The Portico Library team, especially our volunteers who supported the making of this exhibition.
The public opening of Everything and Nothing: what makes a 220-year-old library? is on Thursday 19 March at The Portico Library, 57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY. Located on the first floor of the building. At 6pm -7.30pm. Introduction and speeches at 6.30pm.
Entry is free via signing up here.
