Reading’s new Central Library opens Thursday

The doors of Reading’s new Central Library will open on Thursday 18 June, and we are inviting residents to come and visit the town’s newest venue.

The Central Library’s new home is now in the Civic Centre on Bridge Street.

Two double doors in the newly redesigned reception will open at 9am and lead into the ground floor of the bright, spacious, and modern library.

On the ground floor is the new children’s library, which is more than double the size of the previous area. Its books and storytelling area is surrounded by a forest-themed scene, with a large, enchanting story throne as a focal point. There are tables and chairs, as well as cosy areas for sharing a book with a child.

The new community and events space called The Square has books and dozens of workspaces, with a staircase leading up to the first floor. The area can also be hired for events.

The dedicated local history section detailing the history of Reading is among the areas on the first floor, along with a new teaching and meeting space called the Holybrook Room.

The entire library is the size of five tennis courts and is fully accessible. It has a well-stocked fiction, non-fiction, local history, and family history collection, with new stock being added to the 60,000 books moved from the library’s former home. There is also a new dedicated teen area with age-appropriate books and graphic novels, shared study spaces and relaxed seating.

With almost 100 work or study spaces there is a wide choice available including traditional desks and chairs, partitioned desks, as well as comfortable chairs and pods with access to free Wi-Fi throughout the library. The majority have their own power source.

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.

There is new technology to use and borrow, including free-to-use tablets and computers as well as laptops that can be borrowed to take home, that come with free data.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Liz Terry, said:

“I would encourage everyone to come and explore the new Reading Central Library and have a look around.

“There are workspaces, the opportunity to use computers and tablets, and the chance to absorb the information and fictional worlds in each and every book on the shelves.

“For families and those with caring responsibilities for children, the new forest-themed children’s library is a joy to be in, and I can’t wait to see it full of people, being used and enjoyed.

“If you have links to an organisation, come and see if the new event space or the Holybrook Room might work for you.

“This is an asset which we are proudly investing in, and which will benefit residents of all ages for decades to come.

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

To borrow books and technology, use audio services, or log on to the wi-fi to work at the new Reading Central Library, sign up here.

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, Arts Council England and Reading Borough Council.