The closure date has been confirmed for the main library in Reading, which has been around for 41 years.
The Central Library at the Abbey Square was opened in 1985 to serve as a major hub for people to rent out books and conduct research.
In that time, it has also provided IT services, a venue for events, offices for charitable organisations and as a polling station for elections.
But the library is due to close in just a few weeks, with facilities moving to Reading Borough Council’s civic centre in Bridge Street.
The council’s website states that library services will be unavailable from the Central Library from Monday, May 11
The new library will open in the summer of 2026.
The project has been enabled through £8.6 million of funding, after the council was awarded the money in the previous Conservative government’s Levelling Up scheme.
The council’s policy committee chose to begin a sales process of the current Central Library in June 2024.
At the time, it was suggested that the building could either be converted or replaced to provide housing.
Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for assets, said: “My commitment [is] to get affordable homes in the town centre. Years ago, it was quite cheap to live in the town centre.
“I lived in the town centre just up the road up above the nightclub Poonana, I want to see affordable homes of all types. That area just happens to be a lovely area, and wouldn’t it be great to get some sort of housing there?
“But it may not be possible, and we have to work within the parameters that we’ve got. We are committed to putting homes there, but that may not be possible. We’ve got to leave our options open.”
