Relocated town centre library to open its doors

A relocated library that is the size of five tennis courts will reopen in a town centre today.

Reading's Central Library shut in it's former home of 130 years in Kings Road in May. The council said it was well used, but the dated building was set over a series of floors making accessibility difficult and could not be improved without significant investment.

The new location is in the Civic Centre on Bridge Street with new stock being added to the 60,000 books that were moved from the library's former home.

The first floor is accessible by lift and sees workspaces and a dedicated local history section detailing the history of Reading.

Council leader Liz Terry encouraged everyone to explore the new library and that libraries are "not just here to lend books" they are crucial centres of activity "supporting child and adult literacy, and will offer creative events.

The space will offer extended its opening hours and will be open an hour earlier from 9am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The new children's library on the ground floor is more than double the size of the previous area and includes an area for teenagers.

Terry said for families and those with caring responsibilities the new forest-themed children's library is a "joy to be in."

The space has almost 100 work or study spaces and free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the library with new technology, including tablets and computers to use, and laptops available to borrow with free data.