Library Refurbishment: late August / early September

Image of refurbished University Library surrounded by seating, trees and hedges.

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

Systems upgrade – just online inter-library loan requests to fix

Computer keyboardWe’ve made more progress with fixing the few remaining issues with the systems upgrade, and it is now possible to login to your online account to view your loans, renew them and place holds.

However, we are still experiencing problems with online inter-library loan requests. If you are a member of staff or a research postgraduate, and you would usually complete an online form to place your request, please print and complete this form and drop it into the Ground Floor Information Desk in the Library. There’s no need to attach a voucher, as we will arrange for payment to be taken from your Department’s inter-library loan account.

Apologies for the inconvenience this will cause.

Jackie Skinner, for Sam Tyler, Systems Manager