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Hilary Hammond: Director of Arts and Libraries, Norfolk Library and Information Service, Norfolk, UK
Introduction
Early 2001 should see the opening of a brand new regional central library in Norwich which is intended to serve those living, working or studying in Norfolk and its immediate region. This library will form a significant component of a Millennium building which is being designed by Michael Hopkins and Partners. The project is being planned to be the centre of a hub of networked information and learning services across Norfolk and North Suffolk. The total project is called New Technopolis, and is valued at just over Pounds 66 million.
The building has been promised a grant of just over Pounds 30 million by the Millennium Commission towards its cost of Pounds 60.14 million. Discussions are continuing with the Millennium Commission about the grant which they may make towards the Pounds 6 million cost of the region-wide networked services. The project is being undertaken by a new company, the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Bid Company Ltd, with whom the county council is planning to develop a contractual relationship over the provision of the service.
Apart from the library, the other elements of the building are a Heritage Visitor Attraction, bringing together elements of the history of Norwich and its region; a tourist information centre; business and learning centre; central ticket shop for events in the area; 200-seat multimedia auditorium; catering; underground car park and a new public square in front of one of the most important parish churches in the country.
The opportunity to develop a replacement for the previous central library came about because the previous library was destroyed in a fire on 1 August 1994. Following a period of research and study, it was decided that the new library should be built in the same area of Norwich. Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council, who between them own the old library site and an adjacent surface car park, decided soon after the Millennium Commission was established that they should work together to maximize the potential for a major economic regenerator through incorporating the replacement central library in a landmark building project utilizing both their sites.
New Technopolis's objectives
The New Technopolis project has an economic regeneration mission...