One of Manchester's iconic buildings is to close and more than a million books put into storage to allow for essential refurbishment work.

As part of plans to transform the Manchester Town Hall Complex, Central Library will be closed in stages from 25 February.

A temporary library will be set up at Elliot House, Deansgate, in June.

When Central Library reopens in 2013 it will boast a number of improved services, including an archive centre.

Some of the books will be stored in salt caverns in Cheshire. The library has about 44,000 volumes published before 1850 and more than 30 works dating back to the 15th Century.

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