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University of Reading

Library study space moves to URS Building

Tuesday, 07 February 2017

URS Building

Study space will move from the Library into URS.

The University will shortly be able to offer the URS Building as an alternative to studying in the Library during its major refurbishment.    

We will be moving the majority of furniture and IT equipment from the Library into URS so that students can study in a comfortable and quiet space away from construction works. 

What we are doing

  • Studying in URS will be quieter as it is further away from Library building works.
  • The URS Building will be open 24/6+ just like the Library is now.
  • Course Collection will move into URS to maintain full access.
  • Books will remain in the Library and will be borrowed as usual.
  • Although the majority of staff are moving into URS there will still be staff based in the Library to help you out.
  • Using URS means the refurbishment will be finished earlier than originally planned.

838 study spaces (including 145 computers) will move into URS along with the majority of Library staff – so there’ll always be someone on hand to help. Cafélibro will also relocate to URS.   

All books (excluding the Course Collection) will stay inside the Library and will be available to use and borrow as usual. The Course Collection will move into URS and will continue to be accessible for 24 hours in term-time, as the Library offers now. 

As well as providing a quiet and convenient alternative space for students, using the URS Building will mean that the length of the refurbishment programme will be shortened by approximately six months, ending mid 2019 as opposed to late 2019 / early 2020 as originally planned.     

The URS Building was vacated in December 2016 in preparation for the building’s own major redevelopment – as the programme is still under revision in light of the building’s grade two listing, the University is now in a position to offer it up as relief space to students. We expect URS to be available until at least August 2018. 

RUSU are supportive of the move as it helps provide a suitable environment for work and study in the wake of such a major project.

Ben Cooper, RUSU President, said: 

“RUSU is committed to campaigning for more study space and better facilities for students on campus. We highlighted that the University must do everything it can to mitigate issues such as noise from the building work and access to books, especially for students currently studying here.  

RUSU believes that this move of study space to URS is a good option and will result in less overall problems for students to face. It means that some of the noise problems will be reduced and there will be adequate study space in the busy periods whilst the Library refurbishment is being completed.”

The University is working hard to implement these plans ready for the 2017 Quiet Period. Logistics are still being finalised and will be shared with students as early as possible. If the move is at risk of affecting the exam period it will be postponed until after exams have finished. 

Please share this information with your students. In addition to URS, alternative study space is available across our Whiteknights and London road campuses – a full list is available online and will be revised to include the full space within URS shortly. Students can also use the Free Room finder to help identify available rooms on a daily basis. 

Further advice on alternative spaces and the latest project news can be found on the Library Refurbishment Project webpage: www.reading.ac.uk/library/refurb.