Newcastle City Library is anmed the Charles Avison Building after the 18th-century Newcastle composer. It was dedicated on 21 June 2009.
The opening day, 7 June 2009, featured a programme of entertainment from musicians performing in the entrance hall and fictional characters including Captain Hook, Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland, The Queen of Hearts, The Gruffalo and Peter Rabbit. The six-storey building contains a marble-floored atrium, a viewing platform, a 185-seat performance space, a café and an exhibition space. Construction cost was £24 million.
It was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on 6 November 2009.
The new building features many technologies specifically designed for use in libraries. Every book is fitted with a digital tag, meaning books can be checked out and returned via automated checkout points, and theft of stock becomes much harder. Staff members carry hands-free voice-activated WiFi radios to communicate with other members of staff, a first in the UK.