Relocated Reading Central Library opens to the public
- wendy17345
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Reading Central Library re-opened on 18th June in its new home at the Civic Centre on Bridge Street after occupying its previous site for 41 years.
The new purpose-built library is modern, spacious and fully accessible, with versatile spaces to cater for a variety of visitors and uses.
A hugely improved digital and learning offer includes almost 100 work or study spaces and free Wi-Fi accessible throughout the library. New technology includes tablets and computers to use in the library, and laptops available to borrow with free data.
As a long-standing partner of Reading Libraries, Insight Media supported the move to the new site with a number of solutions to provide a modern, fit-for-purpose technology environment for patrons. We provide a range of services to Reading Libraries, including hosting their public network infrastructure, and managing their public network which includes onsite hardware.
Public PCs
The public PCs are all managed with iCAM Workstation Control to enable flexible management of computer access and advance bookings for individual users and groups. The library service has installed new public computers in all their libraries and we created a new image that included Windows 11 and Microsoft Office applications.
Reboot Restore
Images and updates are managed by Insight Media supported by a product called Reboot Restore Enterprise. Reboot Restore automatically restores public PCs to a clean state at every reboot, ensuring devices remain secure and compliant at all times.
Internet Bookings
Users can manage their own PC session bookings directly on the PC, whilst staff retain the ability to manage reservations from a central workstation if required.
Printing
iCAM Printer Control and iCAM Wireless Cloud Print enable library visitors to print from a public PC or from their own device. Library members can even print from their device at home and then pay for and collect their prints when they visit the library.
Print jobs can be manipulated to ensure only the required pages are printed, and to select number of copies, paper size and mono/colour options, streamlining the printing process for both staff and users as well as reducing waste.
Self-service
iCAM products have been integrated with Bibliotheca self-service kiosks so that users can pay for and release print jobs on the kiosks, bringing further efficiencies and benefits to staff and users.
The use of self-service kiosks has enabled the library to offer extended opening hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The new library has been well received by local residents, with lots of comments about the lightness, brightness, children’s library, charging and study spaces. The library is currently welcoming more than double the visitors of the old location, and issues are also up.
“Insight Media have consistently been able to offer solutions based on our needs and have been really flexible in accommodating all the requirements of this complex move to new infrastructure – we continue to enjoy the collaboration and the library public infrastructure that Insight operate continues to be adaptable for everything we throw at it”
Simon Smith, Reading Libraries and Museum Manager.
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