Complex sentence: The previous library was opened in 1883 and was designed by John Henry Chamberlain featuring a tall clerestoried reading room, this was demolished in 1974 after the new library had opened.
Split into simpler sentences: The previous library, designed by John Henry Chamberlain, opened in 1883, and featured a tall clerestoried reading room. It was demolished in 1974 after the new library had opened.