By Arthur Clinton, News Reporter
A full re-opening is set to take place on November 17, where the full fruits of the University’s £1.8 million investment into refreshing the library will be revealed. Until then, a new and improved help desk, freshly painted forest green walls, and a floor of funky carpeting will suffice.
As of today October 20, the Arts and Social Sciences Library's updated ground floor is open for students to study in, while the first and second floors remain largely unchanged.
One thousand high-demand books are now returned from Wills Memorial Building, having been moved there due to the library's closure.
The iconic, brutalist-style library was built in 1975 and holds a special place in the heart of many students as the only 24/7 study space on campus.
Speaking to Epigram about the ASSL’s new look, third year Physics student Hayden described the library’s infamous outside appearance as ‘part of its charm’, saying the new library was ‘#NOTMYASS.’
Arthur Clinton
Despite the militant nostalgia of some, improvements are clear; the reception is more open and welcoming, the ground floor is dotted with houseplants, and both security gates at the exit actually work. However, there has been comparatively little change to study areas on the first and second floors.
In an e-mail to English students, subject librarian Damien McManus said: ‘the ground floor is partially open but we are waiting for furniture deliveries before we can make this space fully available.’
James Lewis
A library staff member told Epigram that for now, the ground floor café had been filled with old tables and chairs to give students more options for working and socialising, and for the library to fulfil its role as a large capacity study space.
The full re-opening of the library in November will include a fully refreshed café, a creative lab for emerging technologies such as virtual reality, and an exhibition gallery that will hold its first exhibition in early 2026.
Featured image: Epigram / Ellen Reynolds
