The new £8 million central library has officially opened at Reading council’s offices in the town centre.
Library services in the town centre have been moved to the civic offices in Bridge Street following a multi-million-pound project that has been years in the making.
The new library is home to more than 60,000 books, free-to-access computers and IT and more.
The library was inaugurated with two ribbon cuttings and the unveiling of a memorial plaque by Liz Terry, the leader of Reading Borough Council.
The opening was attended by Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading Central and Olivia Bailey, the Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire.
Councillor Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the council leader, said: “I’ve been really looking forward to this day. I’ve been watching, every time I come into the civic offices, kind of bit by bit seeing it being transformed, and it is just fantastic.
“This is more than a building. It’s a place of learning, discovery, creativity and community. I hope that it will inspire children and young people, and actually people of every age, to find a love of books. I can remember that we didn’t have books so much growing up, for various reasons, but I found Enid Blyton, like quite a lot of people who might be my age did, and the Famous Five, and it was exciting and thrilling.
“But over time I sort of lost it again.
“It was during my time when I was working for the council that the chief executive at the time inspired me to take up reading again.
“There’s nothing like disappearing into a book. But it’s more than books, isn’t it, these days? It’s a place to bring your families, it’s a place for children to take part in activities like rhyme time, to learn, to research, to create CVs, to find work, to access help and support.
“Libraries open many, many doors for many, many people. It’s just not about books.”
Jackie Yates, the council’s chief executive, thanked staff and the public for being patient while the work has taken place.
She said: “Thank you to everybody for bearing with us through the noisy times, and there have been some, but also through the cold and the warm times where our new decarbonised heating system has been implemented and bedded in.”
The new library and other improvements to the council offices have been made after a successful bid for £8 million of Levelling Up funding from the previous Conservative government.
Councillor Paul Gittings (Labour, Coley), the Mayor of Reading, said: “Thanks to the efforts of Lee Councillors, of officers, we were able to make successful bids to the government and it’s manifested itself in the opening today of this fantastic facility. And I say right at the heart of the Civic Centre, which obviously people can access to use other services, but hopefully they’ll also then come into the library to access books because that’s really, really important.”
He then used the rest of his speech to mention ABC to Read, one of his mayoral charities, which helps children with literacy.
Cllr Gittings also noted that 2026 is the National Year of Reading.
The opening took place on Thursday, June 18.
