Library of the future is revealed

The university says it has outgrown the current library

Plans for a £57m "library of the future" have been devised by Aberdeen University.

The project, which will replace the existing Queen Mother Library, will provide facilities for 14,000 students.

It will also provide a showcase for a 200,000-strong collection of historic books and 4,000 archival collections.

The proposals, to be considered by the city council, intend to construct an "inviting building" for the whole of the north east.

A full planning application for the library is expected to be submitted to the council on Wednesday.

The £57m library will stand as one of the most significant new Scottish public buildings of the last hundred years Professor C Duncan Rice Aberdeen University

The existing Queen Mother Library was built when the university had only 5,000 students on campus.

It will be demolished on completion of the new facility which will be located adjacent to the existing library site on the King's College campus.

Professor C Duncan Rice, the university's principal and vice-chancellor, said the university had "physically outgrown" the current library.

"In its place we plan a remarkable new building that symbolises all our ambitions for our sixth century and beyond", he said.

"The practical case for the new library is stark, the architectural vision for it is a glittering one. The £57m library will stand as one of the most significant new Scottish public buildings of the last hundred years."

It is hoped the new building will become a focal point

He added: "An international landmark, it will echo the impact of ideas from Aberdeen in distant places. It will represent our past, present and future, our continuing role as intellectual pioneers, here at the northern frontiers of Europe.

"It will be a cultural icon of which not only our scholars and students but all of the people of Scotland can be proud."

Professor Christopher Gane, vice-principal of the university's library and information services and leader of the project team, said the benefits of the major initiative would extend well beyond the university campus.

He added: "The new library will also enable us to preserve and vigorously to promote our outstanding heritage of unique historic collections, including the private library of our founder, Bishop Elphinstone, and to acquire further national treasures, which we know will attract interest from around the world."

The new library is one of several projects in the university's £228m 10-year programme of investment in its infrastructure.