pressure on the Main Library. This 1959 library was renamed Western Bank Library on 1 September 2007. In February 2010, the building was refurbished by Avanti Architects, restoring the previously obscured marble walls to its original form, and providing group study rooms and new study spaces. Architecture Western Bank Library is built in post-war modernism style. The building is resolutely rectangular, with an exterior of stone facings and plate glass. Its interior is constructed of reinforced concrete and steel, with marble stairways. It has large glass curtain walls run through the length of its reading room, offering views north across Weston Park's lake and grounds. Western Bank Library was described as "the best modern building in Sheffield" by architecture historian Nikolaus Pevsner. The library has a marble-walled Exhibition Gallery on the mezzanine level. The gallery was formally opened in 2010 after restoration with a grant of £184,000 from the Wolfson Foundation and other alumni foundation gifts. The Exhibition Gallery is open to the public during the library's opening hours. It displays items from the university's special collections and archive, as well as hosts visiting exhibitions. Past exhibitions include works and objects by showman P. T. Barnum, architect George Devey, artist Annie Bindon Carter, author Barry Hines and Sheffield's Nobel laureate Hans Krebs. The gallery also showcased the Department of Music's collection of historical musical instruments, and the university's fine press books. Holdings The library holds 1.2 million texts for most subjects as well as 25,000 rare books and 150 special collections. It is also home to the university's Special Collections and the National Fairground and Circus Archive. See also Arts Tower Western Bank Campus References External links The University Library University of Sheffield Sheffield University buildings and structures University of Sheffield Academic libraries Grade II* listed buildings in Sheffield Grade II* listed educational buildings