Britain's biggest public library, opened less than 18 months ago, is to have its opening hours cut by almost half as a cost-saving exercise.

The Library of Birmingham, with its stunning futuristic architecture cost 290 million U.S. dollars and opened in a blaze of publicity in September 2013.

It instantly became one of the city's biggest tourist attractions.

It was confirmed Tuesday by officials in Britain's second biggest city the library's opening hours will be reduced from 73 a week to just 40 hours a week, with up to 100 library staff facing job losses as a result.

The library in Centenary Square was hailed by city council officials as a flagship project in the regeneration of the city center.

As well as being the biggest library in Britain, it also boasts the largest public cultural space in Europe.

The library houses a number of national and internationally important book collections, including one of the world's most important collections of works by Britain's most famous playwright William Shakespeare. This includes a rare original folio by Shakespeare dating back to 1623.

The library was opened by Pakistani schoolgirl who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban, and who now lives in Birmingham. Unveiling a plaque, she commented "Let us not forget that even one book, one pen, one teacher can change the world".

Birmingham politicians are grappling with cuts in funding from the national government, and like many other towns and cities in Britain, public libraries are in the frontline of savings.

But the impact of public spending cuts at one of the country's most important libraries has sent shockwaves through the country's cultural sector.

Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore has already warned the city council faces the prospect of cuttings it workforce by 6,000 in response to a reduction in spending.