▁The ▁library , ▁granted ▁Gra de ▁I ▁listed ▁status ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁is ▁maintained ▁by ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Manchester ▁and ▁open ▁for ▁library ▁readers ▁and ▁visitors . ▁ ▁History ▁En ri qu eta ▁Ry lands ▁purchased ▁a ▁site ▁on ▁De ans gate ▁for ▁her ▁mem orial ▁library ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 9 ▁and ▁commission ed ▁a ▁design ▁from ▁architect ▁Bas il ▁Champ ne ys . ▁Ry lands ▁commission ed ▁the ▁Manchester ▁academic ▁Alice ▁Co oke ▁to ▁index ▁the ▁vast ▁library ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Earl ▁Sp encer ▁which ▁she ▁had ▁purchased ▁and ▁another ▁collection ▁of ▁aut ograph s . ▁Mrs ▁Ry lands ▁intended ▁the ▁library ▁to ▁be ▁princip ally ▁the ological , ▁and ▁the ▁building , ▁which ▁is ▁a ▁fine ▁example ▁of ▁Victor ian ▁Goth ic , ▁has ▁the ▁appearance ▁of ▁a ▁church , ▁although ▁the ▁concept ▁was ▁of ▁an ▁Oxford ▁college ▁library ▁on ▁a ▁larger ▁scale . ▁Champ ne ys ▁presented ▁plans ▁to ▁Mrs ▁Ry lands ▁within ▁a ▁week ▁of ▁gain ing ▁the ▁commission . ▁There after ▁frequent ▁disag re ements ▁arose ▁and ▁Mrs ▁Ry lands ▁selected ▁decor ative ▁elements , ▁window ▁glass ▁and ▁stat ues ▁against ▁his ▁wishes . ▁ ▁Champ ne ys ▁was ▁given ▁the ▁honour ▁of ▁speaking ▁about ▁the ▁library ▁at ▁a ▁general ▁meeting ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Institute ▁of ▁British ▁Arch itect s ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁a ▁Royal ▁Gold ▁Medal ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 2 . ▁The ▁library ▁was ▁granted ▁listed ▁building ▁status ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁January ▁ 1 9 5