A NEW library at a school in Worcester has been nominated for a prestigious national architectural award.

The King's School Worcester's extension and remodelling of an existing Victorian building into a library has been shortlisted for a 2008 RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Award.

Designed by Birmingham-based Associated Architects, the new library is already a City of Worcester award winner and received 17,000 visitors during the first month it was open.

Chairman of RIBA West Midlands Mary King said: "It's exciting that a significant local project like this has been shortlisted for a top national architectural award.

"It highlights the good design that architects can bring to every type of building project, including this inspiring new 21st Century library created from a Victorian school building."

Taking the form of a new long gallery running through the centre of the school, the library is on two levels, paved and clad in granite echoing the colour of the original building's sandstone.

Its design has a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility and minimising emissions of carbon dioxide.

The library is up against 14 other schemes with the winner being announced next month.