The Millennium Library's ground floor is closed until further notice after its glass entrance door shattered on 21 October. The first and second floors are open.

The ground floor of the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library is closed until further notice. A large glass door at its main entrance in The Forum shattered on Wednesday 21 October.

Norfolk County Council runs the library. It said: “The ground floor of the Millennium Library will remain closed until further notice and all events scheduled for the ground floor today are postponed.” The council’s statement was reported word for word by the BBC, and the Norwich Evening News reported the same closure notice from the library’s own social media post.

The library’s manager said a member of staff suffered minor cuts when the door shattered on top of them. The council said the glass doors were installed in 2001, when the building first opened. A spokesperson for The Forum also said the ground floor was closed until further notice.

The council apologised for any inconvenience and thanked visitors for their patience. It has not said when the ground floor will reopen. The library’s manager warned that parts of the library could be closed for some time while the glass is cleared and the doors are repaired.

A new entrance, old doors

The closure comes 12 weeks after the library reopened on 29 July after a £1.3 million refurbishment. That work gave the ground floor a new bookshop-style entrance. The doors that failed, the council said, date from the original 2001 build.

The council says the library is one of the busiest in the UK, with about one million visits a year. It turns 25 this year.

What it means for you

The council said the first and second floors stay open. According to the council’s library page, that covers:

Floor What is there Normal hours
First floor Main lending library, Zine Library Mon to Fri 8am to 7pm (staffed from 10am), Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10.30am to 4.30pm
Second floor Norfolk Heritage Centre, Business and IP Centre Mon to Fri 10am to 7pm, Sat 9am to 5pm

Before you go:

  • Check the ground floor services first. The council’s page lists the Express library, the Early Years library and the American Library on the ground floor. Ask the library whether the one you want is reachable before making a special trip.
  • Ground floor events on 21 October were postponed. If you have booked an event on the ground floor later this week, check with the library before going.
  • Returning books: the library’s dropbox is outside the ground floor doors, so it may be affected. You can renew loans online with your library card and PIN if you cannot get in.
  • Questions: the library’s contact details are on the council’s library page.

We will update this page when the council says the ground floor has reopened.