Questions have been raised about why Reading Borough Council is building a brand new library instead of refurbishing its existing purpose-built library in the town centre.
And now the authority has responded by explaining its decision.
Reading Central Library in King’s Road has been open since 1985. The building was created as a place for people to take out books, study, use printers and access voluntary services.
But Reading Borough Council is selling off the building for development.
It comes after the council won £19.1 million from the government’s levelling up fund for a new arts centre and library.
Of that cash, £8.6 million is being used to build a new library at the council’s offices in Bridge Street.
But residents and readers have been asking questions about why levelling up funding wasn’t used to upgrade the library at its existing site.
At a meeting of the council’s Older Persons Working Group, Camille James, a capital project manager for the council, admitted that the new library would have fewer books than the existing one.
These questions have been answered by the council, with a spokesperson conceding that the current library is well-used.
The spokesperson said: “The existing Central Library on the King’s Road is well-used but in a dated building which is set over three floors, making accessibility challenging and modernisation difficult without significant investment.
“There are just a few metres difference in public shelving at the new library and there will be a significantly bigger children’s section.
“The ambition is to create an inviting accessible space over two floors for residents to borrow books, work, study and access the web, with better facilities including desks with power points.
“The new library location at the Civic offices remains close to bus routes, is accessible to pedestrians and is in a familiar location.”
The sales process for the current new library started this July, 39 years after the building was opened.
The library is also home to voluntary organisations Current occupants the Berkshire Family History Society, REDA, the economy and destination agency, and Reading Voluntary Action, which are all due to vacate by December this year.
No price for the Central Library site has been set, with it appearing on Rightmove as ‘price on application’ (POA).
The building has been earmarked as a site for 46-50 new homes in the council’s Local Plan partial update.
A council document stated that demolition and replacement of the building may not be possible given the potential archaeological implications.
