Our Library has begun its £40 million transformation into a state-of-the-art centre for learning and development. Key improvements will be the creation of extra space for individual and group study, enhanced borrowing and lending services, better access and building security, and a significant reduction in energy usage and carbon emissions.

We’re taking measures to minimise disruption wherever possible – the Library will stay open for the entire refurbishment project, and all books will remain available inside the building.

A banner on hoarding around where new lifts are being created

A project of this scale means that noisy works will be unavoidable at times. The loudest phases of work will cease by 10:00am, but there may be times where sound may carry across various parts of the building. Library staff will be able to advise on noisy works on a day-to-day basis

As a precaution, the University has identified alternative areas across our Whiteknights and London Road campuses that should be available during the autumn term for quiet study (subject to teaching timetabling and departmental use).

Do I really need to leave the Library? 

Try alternatives if you can hear noise on the other side of hoarding walls

If you encounter noise inside the Library, there are several things you could try first before choosing to relocate. The University and RUSU advise the following:

1. Move desks or floors: Many areas within the Library will remain quiet even when work is being carried out. You may find that moving to an area in the opposite direction of noise or to a different floor will be much quieter and easier to work in. Ask our Library staff for recommendations on where to go.
2. Close any nearby windows: Work taking place on another floor may sound much closer if windows are left open – something as simple as closing a window can make a huge difference to how far sound travels.
3. Take a break: Use noisy outbursts as an opportunity to take a break – you may find that noisy work has stopped by the time you return to your studies. Being hungry or thirsty can also affect your concentration, making you more susceptible to distractions – grab a snack and take a few minutes out!
4. Adjust your study routine: Altering the time you use the Library to study may make a difference too. Instead of visiting during the afternoon for instance, why not alter your routine so that you use the Library in the evening instead?

Try experimenting with different tactics first before choosing to study in an alternative location – relatively small changes can make a real difference to your study experience.

List of alternative spaces

A list of alternative space has been prepared to highlight rooms available for quiet study.  Please check details given alongside each room in case any conditions apply. Locations featured on the list can be checked against our Whiteknights and London Road campus maps.

You may also find our live list of available PCS helpful in choosing where to study.

Introducing Study@TOB2

Brought to you in conjunction with RUSU, The Study@TOB2 is a brand new area created within the converted music practice rooms in TOB 2, Earley Gate.

The Study@TOB2 provides an additional 64 spaces for individual and group study. The study area includes a printer, full Wi-Fi and plenty of plugs for laptops. The study area is very convenient for students based at Bridges and Wessex Halls, as well as those studying in TOBs 1 and 2, Harry Pitt, Agriculture, Psychology and Meteorology. Access is open to all registered students holding a campus card.

Please see RUSU’s guide to The Study@TOB2 for further details.

Don’t forget that in addition to The Study@TOB2 RUSU also provide extra space at The Study, which is situated behind the Students’ Union building near Car Park 4.

Free Room Finder

Need to find a room quickly? UoR has created Free Room Finder, a handy website that provides details of rooms suitable for quiet study available for immediate use by students for ad-hoc study activities. Simply choose the area of campus you wish to search in and let the finder do the rest.

Treatment of spaces

We are sure you already do this, but if you choose to use another part of the University for your studies, please be sure to treat each space with respect.

Spaces within each building will be available on a first-come first-served basis; however, priority will be given to students wanting to use alternative study space within their subject-area building. So, for example, a Classics student will have priority over a Biological Sciences student wanting to use a Classics space within the HumSS building on a particularly busy day.

As the autumn term is underway, don’t forget that some of these areas may be used for teaching or other departmental needs at certain times.

Please read our Classroom Rules before using any of the rooms suggested.

If you encounter problems when using any of the alternative study spaces you may report these to the Library at library@reading.ac.uk who will refer the issue on to the School/Department or other manager of the space.

Further information on our Library refurbishment project

… can be found at www.reading.ac.uk/library/refurb.

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator for
UoR Communications

Revised impression of the refurbished University Library

Early works for the Library refurbishment continue over the course of the week 15-21 August. Following on from last week, the majority of activity will focus on the erection of hoardings inside and outside the Library, and preparations for the demolition of the glassed-in staircase near CaféLibro.

• External hoardings continue to be set up around the outside of the Library, and are due to be complete by September.
• Inside the Library, internal hoardings continue to be set up between the Ground and 4th Floors.
• CafeLibro remains open for business as usual despite a few noticeable changes to the café area. Hoardings will be erected within the café, and the vending machines and fridges have been moved alongside the café windows.
• The 2nd Floor group study area remains closed so that hoarding can be erected. Please use group study space on the 4th or Ground Floors.
• On the Ground floor, hoarding is going up in the entrance hall, around the closed, glass-enclosed stairs, ready for its demolition. The IT and Library catalogue PCs have relocated under the main stairs opposite.

Students and staff are reminded 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 10:00am.

Contact Library Facilities Manager, Robin Hunter, if you have any queries about the works taking place.

For further information about the refurbishment, please visit www.reading.ac.uk/library/refurb.

Rachel Redrup, Library Marketing Co-ordinator
with UoR Communications

The refurbished University Library entrance and café will look out onto pleasant landscaping. Silver-grey building cladding, with regency-gold coloured highlights will increase energy efficiency, weather proofing, and reduce solar glare to the front study spaces

We’re getting ready for the latest phase of our significant Library refurbishment! Work taking place over the next few weeks (from Tuesday 12 July 2016) will mostly focus on getting the site prepared for large-scale works happening later this summer. Please be aware that there may be bursts of noisy work during this period. The noisiest work will be restricted to the morning before 10:00. However, your access to the Library, its resources and its staff will be maintained throughout.

Task 1 (from 12 July): The first task is to set up the contractors’ site behind the Library, incorporating the lawn and gardens. You will still be able to enter the Library at the usual front entrance. However, behind the Library the access road will be closed off for the duration of the works and disabled parking bays will be available elsewhere. There are three disabled parking bays in Cedars Hotel Car Park (Car Park 15) and one space opposite the Santander Bank.

Task 2 (from 18 July): Protective hoardings will be erected outside the Library building. More hoardings will go up inside the Library on all floors around the glass-enclosed, south stairs  in preparation for construction of new lifts in this area.  Information Desks may be relocated on the 2nd and 4th Floors but access to all Library stock will be unaffected. CaféLibro service also continues unaffected.

Task 3 (from 25 July): Work will begin on south staircase, which may be noisy at times. You will need to start using bike racks under the overhang of the URS building as those around the Library will be temporarily relocated.

A PowerPoint presentation illustrating each area of work can be downloaded here. This information as a table is here.

Postgraduate students in particular have been alerted to alternative quiet study space on campus they can use this summer, mainly in their own departments.

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.

Rachel Redup, Library Marketing Co-ordinator