Reading’s new Central Library opens in June

Reading Central Library will be open in its new home at the Civic Centre, Bridge Street, from Thursday 18 June.

The bright, spacious and modern library will be fully accessible and home to well- stocked fiction, non‑fiction, local history and family history collections. It will also include a new community and events space called The Square, almost 100 work or study spaces with free Wi-Fi, and the majority will have their own power source.

Families are the biggest users of Reading libraries, and the children’s area will be bigger and better than its predecessor. There will be lots of children’s books, cosy areas for reading and space for storytelling and singing.

The new Reading Central Library will also offer extended opening hours. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, it will open an hour earlier in the morning, with access to self‑service library facilities such as book issue and return, and use of the work and study spaces.

The new Central Library will also include:

• A dedicated teen area with age-appropriate books and graphic novels, shared workspaces and a relaxed seating area.
• A large range of books for everyone to enjoy.
• 18 free-to-use tablets and an additional eight laptops to borrow.
• 10 free-to-use computers.
• Different zones for work, relaxation or meetings.
• A dedicated local history section detailing the history of Reading.

The entrance to the library will be via the new, redesigned reception of the Civic Centre.

From Monday 11 May there will be no services available at the King’s Road library site.

This is so that 60,000 books can be moved from the old King’s Road site to their new home.

No borrowed items are due back to Central Library during this transition period, and Reading Library books never incur fines. However, residents who have borrowed an item will be able to return it to any of the other six community libraries in Reading in the meantime, or the new Central Library at the Civic Centre from 18 June.

The six community libraries, which offer book and audio book loans, printing and computer services, are: Battle, Caversham, Palmer Park, Southcote, Tilehurst or Whitley Libraries. Opening times are here All libraries - Reading Borough Council.

Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of the Council, said: “The new Central Library will be a cultural asset and shows our investment into the town.

“While the former location has served the town well since 1985, it is no longer accessible, it's dark and doesn’t have the facilities residents now require.

“We have been working hard to create a spacious library filled with books residents want to read, as well as work and study stations.

“This includes a wonderful and large children’s area surrounded by woodland scenes to help children fall in love with reading and books, which has been proven to set them on the right path to a good future. This also reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting families and giving every child in Reading the best possible start in life.

“This is a new chapter for library services in the town at a new location, and we are investing to ensure our libraries are delivering for everyone in our town.

“Our libraries are not just here to lend books, they are busy, vibrant, crucial centres of activity, supporting child and adult literacy, as well as offering a variety of creative events for young and old alike.

“We can’t wait to share the new Central Library with you.”

The King’s Road Library was purpose-built as the County Library for Berkshire and opened in 1985. It replaced the Library in the Town Hall on Blagrave Street.

The redevelopment of the Civic Centre, which includes a redesigned reception area and registration services, the creation of the new Central Library and the modernisation of library services, has been possible due to a multi-million-pound investment in the cultural offer in the town by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Arts Council England and Reading Borough Council.

Reading's new Central Library will open at 9am on Thursday 18 June.