John Rylands Library name is in Manchester city center in a beautiful building of the neo-Gothic style. The library was opened in 1900 by Mrs. Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of the late husband. Her husband, John Rylands was a famous British entrepreneur and philanthropist, owner of the largest in the United Kingdom and the first textile group in Manchester multimillionaire.

The building was constructed by architect Basil Champneys. Since it was assumed that the library will specialize in theological literature, the building is reminiscent of a Gothic church. Manchester was then the largest industrial city, suffered from smog, smoke and air pollution. To protect the books from harmful substances in the building has been arranged very complex ventilation system with water filters and electric fans, which at that time was the best solution. The library is not lit by gas lamps, and electrical, as they do not pollute the air, give more light and safer.

The collection consisted of 40 000 volumes collected by George John Spencer and bought from him. Here are kept rare books: the first printed the Gutenberg Bible, the earliest fragment has come down to us of the New Testament, a collection of papyri, the apocryphal Gospel of Mary and many others.

In 1972, the merged library John Rylands Library and Manchester University.