We’re approaching the halfway point for early works now, continuing to build towards the demolition of the glass-fronted staircase. Work over the next two weeks will largely focus on finishing off the internal hoardings and continued activity around the glass-fronted staircase.

Main works proposed up to Sunday 18 September 2016:

• Internal hoardings on the Ground, 1st, 3rd and 5th Floors should be completed, with doors added for construction workers to access work areas. It goes without saying that these areas are strictly off limits to Library users, so please keep out!
• Work around the glass-fronted staircase will continue from the Basement all the way up to the 2nd Floor.
• The 2nd Floor is expected to reopen for full use during the week beginning Monday 12 September (date subject to change), including the group study area.
• Once the 2nd Floor has reopened the 4th Floor will undergo the same programme of works that were recently carried out on the 2nd floor. As a result the 4th Floor will be closed temporarily. If you were looking to use the group study area on the 4th Floor, please use the space available on the 2nd Floor instead.
• Outside, hoarding will be set up around the bike shed area so that ground works can begin.

Additional details can be found in a floor-by-floor plan. In addition, our contractors ISG have prepared a helpful news bulletin tracking progress over the past month.

As usual, the noisiest sections of work will be carried out up until 10:00am.

Please contact Robin Hunter if you have any queries. Additional information about the Library refurbishment can be found at www.reading.ac.uk/library/refurb.

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