It's all gone rung for ladders at new Library of Birmingham
It cost £190million to build and is the biggest library in Europe.
But tens of thousands of books have been left out of reach because the shelves are too high.
Health and safety fears mean staff at the Library of Birmingham cannot use ladders and mobile platform equipment has not yet arrived.
It means librarians are unable to retrieve reading material and archives from the building's storage area, requested by visitors, because of worries they could fall from ladders and injure themselves.
Students, researchers and academics have spoken out after being unable to get the books they need at the library, which opened six months ago.
Medieval historian George Demidowicz, from the University of Birmingham, said: "The library is great to gawp at, but it is unfit for purpose."
Student Harry Poll, aged 21, from Edinburgh, who is studying politics at the University of Birmingham, said: "When I requested some research material I was told I couldn't have it because they couldn't access the books. I'm doing my dissertation and it's just unacceptable.
"To find out its because of health and safety fears is just bonkers. They spend £190 million but can't afford a little crane to reach the shelves.
"What is the point in having this swanky new library if you can't read the books they have?"
Brian Gambles, director of the Library of Birmingham, apologised to customers for the blunder.
He said: "We fully understand how popular materials in the closed stack areas of the Library of Birmingham are and it is frustrating that we haven't yet been able to give our customers access to them.
"We had planned to introduce this service in the autumn, after the initial post-opening rush had settled a little, but because we're still awaiting delivery of equipment to enable staff to retrieve items from the storage stacks safely, we have had to delay this service.
"We are in frequent contact with the suppliers to get a delivery date.
"We need mobile platform lift devices to enable safe working at heights.
"I'd like to apologise to our customers and ask that they bear with us."
