Further to Minute 37 of the meeting held on 9 March 2023, the Committee considered a report that provided an update on progress with the new Reading Central Library.  The following documents were attached to the report:

·         Appendix 1 – Stock area and background/disposal

·         Appendix 2 – organisations contacted regarding surplus stock

·         Appendix 3 – Equality Impact Assessment

The report explained that the new Central Library would feature a better stocked Children’s Library and better provision for a Teen zone. There would also be more space for books in non-English languages, adult fiction, spoken word and large-print items and an improved local history section. The space would include well-equipped study and working space with over 100 seated spaces, dedicated exhibition space to support visual artists, free PCs and tablets for use on site and free wifi, as well as a new event space that could be used for events and activities, including provision for screenings, streaming and projection and an adult learning/multifunctional room for hire. Alternative ways to provide the toy library service were being investigated.

The report added that books and book lending would be the key function of the new space, with additional focus on making spaces better and more usable for events and activities.  The new space would have a slightly smaller footprint, but the design would accommodate more books on public display as well as more study space.  In order to deliver this some library stock had been identified as surplus to requirements and would be removed in line with the withdrawal policy.  Central Library had been built as a County library for Berkshire and retained large reserve collections for Music and Drama, Reference and fiction/non-fiction.  These collections were largely static and would be reviewed and reduced as part of the move to enable the accommodation of more relevant stock for current users.  The local history collection would be prioritised as a key, unique and valuable resource for the town and retained within the library.  A large amount of other stock not currently publicly available was no longer needed and was set out in a table attached to the report at Appendix 1 to the report.  Appendix 2 to the report listed organisations that had been contacted so far regarding surplus areas of stock.

The report stated that the library move would take place during 2025, with the timetable subject to revision and consultation.  It was recommended that the Assistant Director for Culture, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture, be authorised to approve the mechanics of the move, including decant and period involved. This would enable officers to plan and agree the closure period and arrangements for the decant and move of Central Library in 2025.

Resolved –

(1)       That the approach to stock provision for the new library, including increased provision in several areas, be noted;

(2)       That the planned work in relation to stock management and withdrawals, consistent with the Reading Libraries Withdrawal Policy, be noted;

(3)       That the Assistant Director for Culture, in consultation with the Lead Member for Leisure and Culture, be authorised to agree the closure period to facilitate the move of Central Library to the Civic Centre.