Poet Laureate puts John Rylands Totem in pole position

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy is to unveil an 11-metre high piece of public art at The University of Manchester's world-famous John Rylands Library today (20 May). The stained glass and metal sculpture was the judges' top choice after wading through more than a hundred applications from across Britain, Europe and the United States last year. Funded by the Oglesby Charitable Trust, the £40,000 work - entitled Totem - can be seen by the Library's new entrance wing, close to the original 1890s building famed for its gothic architecture. The winning design, installed in January, came from artist Derek Hunt based at Limelight Studios in Leicestershire. His work can be seen in churches, public buildings, theatres and shopping centres around the UK. Derek Hunt said: "I am thrilled to be awarded such a prestigious commission. "I wanted to create a sense of place with a glass installation which would embody the spirit of The John Rylands Library and celebrate its collections of rare books, manuscripts and archives.