Thursday, May 10th, the investigative radio documentary ‘The library returns’ aired on BBC Radio 4. For this programme architectural critic and writer Jonathan Glancey, among others, visited the Seattle Public Library, Europe's 'most modern' library in Delft, Piers Gough's 'super library' for Canada Water in London's Docklands and Mecanoo’s new Library of Birmingham which will open next year as the largest public cultural space in Europe. Glancey considered what these libraries are doing to secure their place in the future - what they can offer in terms of inspiring architecture, engagement with the communities they serve and democratic access to the digital world.

Audio: Library of Birmingham fragment (min 22.50)/Interview Francine (min 25.35)