As a councillor you sometimes have the privilege of overseeing a project that you know is going to make a real difference for generations to come. The new Reading Central Library is one of those projects, and I’m genuinely excited to see it reaching its conclusion.
This week we announced that the Central Library will officially open in its new home at the Civic Centre on Thursday 18 June. I’ve already had a peek inside, and while it’s structurally complete, it’s now time for bookcases, furniture, self‑service equipment etc to be installed and, of course, the books themselves to be put in place. Even at this stage, you can tell it’s going to be something special.
But a library is about so much more than bricks and mortar.
For children especially, libraries are where reading habits begin. It’s where they discover different types of books and start to work out what they love, and what they don’t. Reading is the cornerstone of education, so the earlier children start, the better. And it’s not just about learning, reading helps us escape into different worlds, feel emotions, explore new interests, and even support our wellbeing through the wide range of self‑help books now available.
That’s why I’m particularly pleased that the children’s area in the new library will be more than twice the size of the current one. There will also be a brand‑new teen section, with age‑appropriate titles and anime books, which are proving hugely popular with young people. And let’s be honest, reading is reading!
This investment is about our young people, but it’s also about everyone in our town. The new library will offer a wide and varied selection of books, as well as continued access to the audio catalogue via the library app.
King’s Road Library has served Reading extremely well since it moved from the Town Hall back in 1985. But what worked then doesn’t quite meet today’s needs. The new Central Library is designed for modern life, with power points at most of the 92 desks for students and remote workers, a community room with a kitchen, and a larger space, The Square, for events.
Accessibility has also been a key focus, with a Changing Places toilet ensuring the library can be used by everyone.
To make all this possible, we’ve made smart use of space within the Civic Centre, including an unused courtyard area, to create the room we needed. The redesigned reception now offers better facilities for residents and serves as the welcoming entrance to this outstanding new library.
So, whether you’re a regular library user or haven’t visited one in a while, I’d really encourage you to come along and take a look when it opens in June. You might just find something that’s perfect for you.
By cllr Liz Terry
