The URS Building will now remain as Library space until autumn 2019.
The University has recently taken the decision to extend the use of the URS Building for Library study space for an extra year. This decision has been taken in consultation with RUSU, to minimise disruption for students while the Library refurbishment continues.
Originally, the arrangements to relocate Library study space to the URS Building were to remain in effect until August 2018, at which point study space and other facilities would move back into the Library. However, this is a complex construction project and we have unfortunately encountered some unforeseen complications along the way. To ensure the refurbishment works can continue within the required timeframe we have agreed that the URS Building will provide a better study environment until work on the Ground and 1st Floors of the Library is complete. This means that URS will continue to operate the way it currently does until autumn 2019, with the plan being to have the majority of Library refurbishment work completed by this point.
Robert Van de Noort, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Planning & Resource) said ‘The URS Building provides a quieter environment for study, enquiries and support. It is less disrupted by the noise or dust of the building project, while still being close enough to borrow and use the Library’s printed materials. Extending its use means that students can continue to use study space and key services away from continuing construction work in the Library for the duration of the refurbishment.’
In addition, we hope to re-open study space on the Library’s Ground and 1st Floors during autumn 2018.
The major £40 million Library refurbishment is on track to be completed by autumn 2019. We appreciate that study space is a key priority for our students, and hope that it may be possible to re-open study space on the Library’s Ground and 1st Floors during autumn 2018.
In the meantime, we are monitoring the usage of study spaces within URS and the alternative study spaces provided across our campuses (see below for more information) to ensure all spaces are accessible, available and well-used. Feedback on these spaces is very much welcome as it will help us to plan study space availability in the future.
Alternative study spaces
Including study space within URS, we have over 1,500 study spaces available across our Whiteknights and London Road campuses. Here are some helpful resources to make it easier for students to find a suitable space to study.
The University has provided some helpful resources to make it easier for students to find a suitable space to study. These can be easily accessed through our Library refurbishment project page, and include:
- the Free Room Finder, showing rooms available for immediate use;
- the list of alternative space, highlighting spaces across Whiteknights and London Road campuses, updated for each term;
- the live list of available PCs, giving information in real time on PCs across campus;
- RUSU’s The Study and The Study@TOB2, offering study spaces to all campus card holders and
- rooms which can also be booked through the University’s Central Room Booking .
Library staff at the URS building Reception or Information Desks will be happy to try and help or advise students looking for study space.
Full details of the refurbishment, including FAQ, project summary, latest news and study space links, are available on our dedicated project website: reading.ac.uk/library/refurb.
University Communications
The URS lecture theatres have been out of use since the relocation to allow us to accommodate the maximum permitted number of study spaces in this building (there’s a restriction on the total number of people allowed in the building at any one time for fire safety). The University has recently taken the decision to re-open the URS large lecture theatre for teaching in the 2017/18 academic year.
Although much of the Ground Floor is now out-of bounds, we created a small area at the bottom of the main stairs for you to borrow, return or renew your loans at Self-Service Points or use PCs and catalogues. Just ask at the Help Point by the entrance if you need assistance. Ground Floor toilets are also still available.
You may have heard construction work in progress from areas closed-off for your safety (Ground Floor, 1st, 3rd and 5th Floors). Our contractors are demolishing internal walls in advance of refurbishing our 1st and Ground Floors; 
Although your study space has moved into the URS Building, we all still think it unfair for students to try to reserve desks by leaving their belongings behind.
Are others chatting too noisily in the Library’s URS Building? Alert us by text, without identifying yourself to others or leaving your seat!
From Monday 3 April until Friday 9 June, overnight and all weekend Library space is reserved for University Campus and Library Card holders only. This is to prevent disruption to our own revising students from non-University members, right until their last exam is over.
Until 10 April the following construction/internal work is expected to be carried out on the Library Building:
Please be aware that contractors are packing up study Library furniture from some floors in order to reassemble it in the 
It is so unfair when students try to reserve study space by leaving their belongings behind. You think so and so do we. If this affects you, please ask Library staff to support you by placing warning cards on unattended stuff. If it is not moved after an hour, you will know you can sit there. Just ask us to help explain if anyone returns after this time and complains to you.