Library John Rylands is located in Manchester city centre in a beautiful building in neo-Gothic style. The library was opened in 1900 by Mrs. Aniceto the Augustine of Rylands in memory of her dead husband. Her husband John Rylands was a famous British entrepreneur and philanthropist, owner of the largest in the United Kingdom textile group and the first in Manchester to a multimillionaire.

The building was constructed by architect Basil Tennisa. Since it was assumed that the library will specialize in theological literature, the building resembles a Gothic Church. Manchester at that time was a major industrial city suffering from smog, smoke and pollution. To protect the books from the harmful substances in the building was arranged very sophisticated ventilation system with water filter and electric fans, which at that time was a progressive decision. Covered library not gas lamps, and electric, as they do not pollute the air, produce more light and safer.

The collection amounted to 40,000 volumes, collected by George John Spencer and bought from him. Here are the rarest of the book: the first printed Gutenberg Bible, a fragment of the earliest extant New Testament, a collection of papyri, the apocryphal gospel of Mary and many others.

In 1972 there was a merger of the library of John Rylands and the University of Manchester library.