Designers are being sought for the new Central Library, which is set to be based in the same building as the Broadmarsh bus station and car park.
Nottingham City Council, which is behind the scheme, plans to move the city’s main library from Angel Row to the Broadmarsh area as part of the redevelopment of the south side of the city.
Now, the Labour-run council is advertising for an architect and design team with specialist experience of designing public libraries.
Initial plans for the replacement of the old concrete edifice did not include a library.
However after a rethink from the council, it was decided the library should be added.
The demolition work on the old car park was finished last year, the roadworks for the project are ongoing, and the council says work on the new car park is due to start "shortly".
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Just across the road, the new Nottingham College building is also well underway.
Both schemes are part of a wider project to regenerate the southern part of the city.
This is set to include new office blocks, student accommodation and private apartments.
Councillor Dave Trimble, who represents the Dunkirk and Lenton Ward for Labour and is the portfolio holder for leisure and localities at the council, said: “When we committed to a new central library, we committed to a better library than the existing one and the best children’s library in the country.
“To achieve this, it’s important we recruit specialist designers so we create something we and our children can be proud of in a great new area of the city.
“There was huge public support for a new library and in the initial consultation and consequently everyone has said it’s important we listen to the public and get a great new design for the library, and releasing money for this appointment will do exactly that.”
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