[2] The former Toowong Municipal Library is prominently located on Coronation Drive and was opened in April 1961, built to the design of Chief Architect at the Brisbane City Council, James Birrell.

[1] The library is a twelve-sided figure where the geometry is made more insistent by the walls sloping outward with diagonal external framing.

The derivation of the library's form can be explained by book-shelving arrangements and its ring-beam construction, but if it has any meaning in itself this is in having the appearance of a flying-saucer and being easily identifiable at 300 metres (980 ft) on a busy road.

The new and developed materials and products which Birrell used frequently include acrylics and plastics; concrete screen blocks; and timber based boards significantly plywood.

Using expertise gained during the war years, Evans Deakin, local ship builders were instrumental in solving complex geometrics in steel work often required on the projects of Birrell.

Many of Birrell's council projects were illustrated in national design journals including the Chermside, Annerley and Toowong municipal libraries, the Stafford substation; the Langlands Park pool complex and the Toowong Baths redevelopment; toilets at Mt Coot-tha; Centenary Pool, Wickham Terrace Carpark and a works depot at Mt Gravatt.

The work of James Birrell, particularly during his time at the Brisbane City Council and after, as the architect to the University of Queensland is widely held to be influential, innovative and excellent.

[1] The library was constructed on three allotments which were part of a New South Wales Land Purchase by Robert Towns and George Christie.

The site was also part of the 1889 Moore subdivision of this area of land and changed hands a number of times before one of the lots was acquired by the Toowong Town Council on 1 September 1903.

From the earliest reports of the unusual 12 sided library in 1959, the press covered the story of the planning and growing controversy over the design of the building.

However shelf space is not the only criterion upon which the circular plans have been adopted...a circular building form is the most economical for the structural enclosure of a large open space and results in functional arrangements for the provision of natural light and ventilation and circulation within the reading room...Criticisms have been levelled at libraries of all shapes and sizes.

An article in The Courier-Mail quoting Alderman Ord suggested that the controversy surrounding the building was a sign of vigour in the local architecture scene.

The roof membrane of the library was formed with 2-inch (51 mm) thick laminated fibre board clad with bituminous felt and finished with white grain render and a copper fascia.

[1] The careful placement of the Toowong Library on its site, likened to the work of Birrell's great and abiding influence, Walter Burley Griffin, allows it to be viewed from the street as a one storeyed structure floating amid surrounding vegetation.

The rear of the building reveals its true two storeyed nature, but even this view reinforces its floating quality, as the base is an organic form of dark face brick.

This room which was originally planned as an auditorium was used by the library as a workroom and to accommodate the councillor was partitioned to form a reception, office and storage space.

[1] By 2001 the building had been painted externally and the amber plastic roof dome was replaced with a large funnel shaped object concealing an air conditioning plant.

The roof, supported on RSJ purlins is pitched upward toward the centre of the building where a large, recently constructed, funnel shaped form houses an air conditioning plant.

[1] The principal entrance to the library floor is via wide concrete steps extending along one of the sides to the east of the building, off Coronation Drive.

The lower floor of the building is of glazed face brick and contains a number of irregularly but well proportioned timber framed window openings and small concrete panels reflecting the placement and layout of the internal stair.

[1] The internal layout of the library floor is essentially open plan, with part-height partitions allowing space to continue beyond room divisions.

On the western side of the workspace is a small office which is formed with 1/2 glazed full height partitioning screens, maintaining the feeling of space in confined areas.

The other large space on the lower floor accessed via a door at the west of the building houses a reception area, office, and bathroom and storage facilities.

Toowong Municipal Library is important in demonstrating the provision and upgrading of public facilities by the Brisbane City Council in the post war years.

The scale, texture, mass, proportions, juxtaposition of elements and siting has produced a fine, well composed building of significant architectural quality.

The building has social significance and has strong associations with the Toowong and wider Brisbane community as an important public facility of considerable usage and prominence.

The building has strong associations with the architect, James Birrell, as a fine examples of his prolific and influential Council work.