The shortlisted companies are:

*Carillion

*Laing O'Rourke

*Sir Robert McAlpine

Each company will be invited to submit a tender by the 1st August this year. Formal interviews will then follow with a winning bidder expected to be announced before the end of the year.

A similar exercise to recruit a design team, which will then work with the chosen construction partner on the project, is currently nearing completion with an announcement of the winning architect due later this summer.

The new building will be developed on land adjoining Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP), in Centenary Square, with the library and theatre joining together and sharing a number of facilities.

As well as shared reception, auditorium, staff and catering facilities the new building will include purpose-designed study areas, new exhibition spaces, and state-of-the-art interactive displays giving access to collections which have regional, national and international importance.

Birmingham City Council leader, Councillor Mike Whitby said:

"We are determined that the new library, integrated with the REP, will be among the very finest and most user-friendly civic buildings in the world.

To achieve this it is paramount that we attract the very finest international design and construction partners, which is why I am delighted with the credentials of companies short-listed for each contract.”

The library is expected to open in 2013.