Guest treasure - Central Library Spiral Staircase

Did you know there was once a spiral staircase which ran from the Information Centre down to the basement of Central Library?

The spiral staircase allowed staff to move between public departments and the reserve stock area in the basement without being seen. It can be seen on a plan of the Reference Library (now the Information Centre) from when the building opened in July 1892.

It was dismantled during the extensive modernisation programme of 1978-1982 and acquired by Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums (AAGM). The staircase has been in store since then but this month AAGM are helping us celebrate the history of the Central Library by providing a sectional tread of the staircase as a guest treasure.


View the touchscreen in the Information Desk to find out more about the Victorian staircase and library staff's experiences of the "rickety and creaky" stairs.