 A RARE book on ornithology will go on display at Liverpool's Central Library tomorrow. John James Audubon's famous Birds of America will finally open for public view at an event attended by dozens of children. The book, comprising four volumes, is hailed by the library as the greatest natural history book ever produced, and will take centre stage at an exhibition showcasing the hidden cultural gems held deep within the vaults. Cllr Warren Bradley, the council's executive member for Culture and Leisure, said last night: "This exhibition is truly stunning and shows the extent of the priceless exhibits the library has in its collection. "Audubon spent many happy times in Liverpool, so it is fitting that the city should display one of his best known works." The volumes were purchased by the Central Library in 1861, thanks to a donation to mark the opening of the William Brown Library and Museum. There are only 120 copies in the world, with the range of hand-coloured engravings making each book unique. The acquisitions were almost lost during the blitz of 1941 when the library's storage rooms took a direct hit. However, a librarian managed to haul many of the rare books to safety. The exhibition opens in the Picton Reading Room and runs for four months. The opening event includes a chance to look at owls from the Martin Mere Wildlife Centre. Cllr Bradley added: "The exhibition is part of our commitment to making the Central Library not only a literary hub, but also a major visitor attraction for the city." The Birds of America will then be given a permanent roost in their own room thanks to a £31.5m remodelling of the Central Library funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Grecian-style Picton library, that will house the collection, was built 18 years after the Audobon volumes were acquired in 1861. Unlike the strongrooms that entombed the Audobon volumes, the Picton library survived the 1941 blitz and boasts many impressive features, including its glass domed roof. | 
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