SJ8397 : Central Library
taken 6 years ago, near to Manchester, England

Manchester Central Library, which is the second-biggest public lending library in Britain (after Birmingham's), is a circular building, south of the extended Town Hall. The library was constructed between 1930 and 1934 but, because of its traditional neoclassical design, many people mistakenly believe that it is much older. The form of the building, a columned portico attached to a rotunda domed structure, is loosely derived from the Pantheon, Rome
The building, which was first opened by King George V on 17 July 1934, is a Grade II* listed building (English Heritage ID:457312 LinkBritish Listed Buildings). It re-opened in March 2014, after a four-year project to renovate and modernise its facilities (Link
The Guardian)
LinkInside Central Library (Manchester City Council)
Listed buildings and structures are officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. There are over half a million listed structures in the United Kingdom, covered by around 375,000 listings.
Listed status is more commonly associated with buildings or groups of buildings, however it can cover many other structures, including bridges, headstones, steps, ponds, monuments, walls, phone boxes, wrecks, parks, and heritage sites, and in more recent times a road crossing (Abbey Road) and graffiti art (Banksy 'Spy-booth') have been included.
In England and Wales there are three main listing designations;
Grade I (2.5%) - exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
Grade II* (5.5%) - particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II (92%) - nationally important and of special interest.
There are also locally listed structures (at the discretion of local authorities) using A, B and C designations.
In Scotland three classifications are also used but the criteria are different. There are around 47,500 Listed buildings.
Category A (8%)- generally equivalent to Grade I and II* in England and Wales
Category B (51%)- this appears generally to cover the ground of Grade II, recognising national importance.
Category C (41%)- buildings of local importance, probably with some overlap with English Grade II.
In Northern Ireland the criteria are similar to Scotland, but the classifications are:
Grade A (2.3%)
Grade B+ (4.7%)
Grade B (93%)
Read more at Wikipedia Link