New library will have less books Reading council says

Reading Borough Council (RBC) has a major project to relocate the Central Library from its current premises in Abbey Square to the Civic Offices.

The project is being pursued after the council won £8 million in a successful bid for government Levelling Up funding.

RBC engaged in a consultation about its plans for the new library this summer, which would involve adding a three-storey front extension to the Civic Offices in Bridge Street.

But residents were perplexed when they heard that the new library would have less books than the existing one.

This detail was revealed to elderly neighbours who are members of the council’s Older People’s Working Group.

Camille James, a capital project manager for the council, admitted that the new library would have less books than the existing one.

This caused confusion among members of the working group.

A female member of the group said: “Surely if you are building a new library you expect to have more books, not less. I was surprised to hear that.”

The existing Reading Central Library in the Abbey Square. Credit: Google Maps

Project manager James admitted the reduction in books was ‘a controversial topic’ but books and other library services have gone digital.

She said that some books currently held at the Central Library in Abbey Square will be relocated to the council’s other libraries in Southcote, Whitley, Tilehurst and other areas.

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The relocation will also mean an overall reduction of floorspace in comparison with the existing building.

A representative of a volunteer organisation that sits in the group expressed concern about the loss of space, as the top floor of the existing library contains the Reading Voluntary Action offices.

Project manager James sympathised, she did say that space would be “at a premium” at the new library.

However, she did not rule out that some space could be set aside for a voluntary organisation.

The way the extension will fit in relation to the current civic office building was also presented to group members.

While enhancements to the outdoors area are planned, they will require the installation of new flagpoles and the relocation of a popular coffee van.

The entrance to the Reading Borough Council civic offices in Bridge Street, showing the popular coffee van and flagpoles, which would move to make way for a library. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

More broadly, both the customer service area and the registrar’s office responsible for recording births, deaths and marriages will have to move to the rear of the building while work takes place.

The council predicts that work can begin in March 2024, with hopes for completion in a year.

However, no official planning application has been submitted yet.

As for accessibility, councillor Paul Gittings (Labour, Coley) asked how accessible the library will be.

Project manager James replied that an improved wheelchair ramp will be established and lifts will take disabled users to the upper floors.

The Older People’s Working Group met on Friday, October 13.

The council is due to submit a planning application for the library soon.