Reading Central Library is set to open its doors in a new home at the Civic Centre on Bridge Street on Thursday 18 June 2026. The move follows the closure of the King’s Road site on Monday 11 May, which was necessary to allow for the relocation of 60,000 books to the new facility.
The new library, a project managed by Morgan Sindall Construction, is part of a £10.7 million redevelopment. Funding for the library was provided by Reading Borough Council, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Arts Council England, with additional investment allocated for library improvements across the area.
Spanning approximately 1,400 square metres, the modern building includes a variety of new features for the community. These include a dedicated children’s area with woodland scenes, a teen zone stocked with graphic novels, and a community events space known as The Square. For those looking to work or study, the library provides nearly 100 workspaces with free Wi-Fi, as well as 18 free-to-use tablets, 10 computers, and eight laptops available to borrow.
Visitors can also take advantage of extended opening hours. The library will open one hour earlier on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, offering access to self-service facilities such as book returns and the study spaces. Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of Reading Borough Council, described the new site as a cultural asset that reflects the council’s investment in the town.
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