public library
A public library is a library, most often a lending library, that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil servic ...
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
, Scotland. The Couper Institute was originally built by architects
Campbell Douglas
Archibald Campbell Douglas (usually simply referred to as Campbell Douglas) (14 June 1828 – 14 April 1910) was a Scottish architect based primarily in Glasgow. He designed many churches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, especially those for the Free ...
and
James Sellars
James Sellars (2 December 1843 – 9 October 1888) was a Scotland, Scottish architect who was heavily influenced by the work of Alexander Greek Thomson.
Life
Sellars was born in the Gorbals in Glasgow, son of James Sellars, house factor a ...
. The library was added in 1923 by architect John Alfred Taylor Houston on the bequest of Robert Couper. The institute and its library are now are now listed buildings, category B.
History
The library was built in 1923-24 by J A T Houston as part of building extensions to the northern side of the existing Couper Institute (built 1887) which were delayed by the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. The library was designed in an English Baroque style, while the earlier hall presents the Scots Renaissance tradition.
Local paper mill owner Robert Couper left 'about £8000' for a library, reading room and hall to be built on the site.
The building was listed as category B by
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) () is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Sc ...
in 1970.
The library was closed during the Covid19 pandemic in 2020 and Glasgow City Council initially planned not to reopen it. Following a local campaign to Save the Couper, the library was reopened in 2022.
See also
*
List of libraries in Scotland
This is a list of libraries in Scotland.
National Libraries
* National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
Public libraries by local authority area
Aberdeen City
* Kincorth Library
* Central Library, Aberdeen, Aberdeen Central Library
* Airyh ...