Construction work at the Library will continue over the next few weeks, with major tasks focusing on the completion of hoardings and preparations for the demolition of the glassed-in staircase near CaféLibro. Main works proposed up to Sunday 11 September 2016 are:

• Works will continue in the entrance hall on the Ground Floor, producing a noticeable difference in layout, as hoarding will continue to be erected around some of the pillars and the glass enclosed stairs. The aim is to substantially complete the temporary walls by the 2 September. The IT and Library catalogue PCs have relocated under the main stairs opposite.
• The set-up of internal hoarding-walls on upper floors (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Floors) will be completed and decorated.
• On the 2nd Floor, a steel frame will hold a temporary wall by the tall columns near the Information Desk in the group study area. We hope to reopen the 2nd Floor Group Study Area by Friday 2 September. If you wish to use a group study space in the meantime, please use the 4th or Ground Floors instead.
• Once the 2nd Floor reopens, the 4th Floor Group Study area will be taken out of action and works carried out as on the 2nd Floor. During the 4th Floor closure, please use the reopened Group Study Areas on the 2nd and Ground Floors.
• Outside the Library, hoardings will be set-up around the new cycle shed area so that ground works can begin. Foundations and ground works will continue around the grass area behind the Library to allow for site offices to be delivered. In addition, a new bin store will be built near to the Chaplaincy.
• Don’t forget that CaféLibro will remain open for business as usual!

Find more detail in the late August / Early September floor-by-floor outline of works.  Progress over the past month is tracked in our contractor ISG’s helpful August news bulletin, University of Reading Library Refurbishment.

We remind both students and staff not to enter areas cordoned off for work, such as the 2nd Floor group study area for their own safety.

The noisiest phases of work will be carried out each morning up until 10:00.

If you have any queries about the works taking place, please contact Robin Hunter. Additional information about the Library refurbishment can be found at www.reading.ac.uk/library/refurb.

Rachel Redrup, Library Marketing Co-ordinator
with UoR Communications

Impression of the refurbished University Library. 

Early works for the Library refurbishment will continue to take place over the next few weeks. The majority of activity will focus on preparing the southern (glassed in) staircase for demolition and continuing the erection of external hoardings. Access to Library services, support and resources will be maintained throughout.

Notable works leading up to Sunday 14 August are:

Week 1 (from 1 August): Work began around Cafe Libro to ensure that the café can continue to operate during the works. A new store was created and hoardings were installed to separate the café from the works, ensuring that you can still get your coffee! The vending machines have also been relocated. Work around the southern (glassed in) staircase continued across most floors in preparation for its demolition– this involved hoardings being set up around the stair core and a small amount of furniture being moved. The 20 bike hoops within the Library undercroft have been relocated to the URS undercroft within the gravel area next to existing bike hoops.

Week 2 (from 8 August): Preparations for the demolition of the southern staircase will continue across all floors– hoardings will be erected and a small amount of furniture will be moved out. Elsewhere, former staff offices on the Ground floor will be stripped out, and temporary power and water supplies will be added to the contractor’s temporary accommodation.

External hoarding will continue to be put up around the Library. This will surround the bike racks in the undercroft- so they have been temporarily relocated next to the bike hoops by the URS Building for the time being. The main bike racks to the front of the building will stay in operation until next year.

A floor-by-floor view is available for additional information.

For more information about the project, see our Library Refurbishment Project webpage or for day-to-day information, contact the Library’s Facilities Manager, Robin Hunter.

Amy Rippon, Trainee Liaison Librarian