Building Connections: Phase One Building Works Update
Our Phase One building works commence this summer and will be complete at the end of December 2025.
Specific arrangements for the duration of the building works are detailed below, followed by the dates when members may experience potential disruptions. We will aim to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.
Please check this webpage for updates before you visit the Library.
Our building improvements are intended to help us make our collection more accessible, support the needs of our growing membership, and ensure our long-term sustainability. We are funding the improvements entirely from donations, and the funds for Phase One have already been secured.
Visit the project website for more information and detailed FAQs. If you have any further questions or comments, please write to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We currently expect the works to commence in the week commencing 4 August 2025, enabling us to take advantage of the quieter period in the Library over summer and keep any inconvenience to a minimum.
During the works, the area beyond the ground floor lift containing the printer, scanner, catalogue computers and guard books will be closed.
Members will continue to have access to these services throughout the works as the equipment and books will be moved to new locations. These moves will commence in the week commencing 21 July 2025. The building works should be complete at the end of December 2025, with the room ready for use in February or March 2026.
The front part of the basement (the area directly below the Issue Hall) will also be closed for the duration of the works. Access to volumes in this area will therefore be restricted but we shall be putting in place arrangements for Library staff to access the volumes in that area, so that members may still use the collection housed in that part of the building. The basement toilets will remain fully accessible.
We expect that the rest of the Library will remain unaffected by the Phase One building works.
Key Dates
While we will aim to keep any inconvenience to a minimum, there may be some disruption on the following dates.
21 July: Catalogue Hall (area beyond the ground floor lift) will be closed. Equipment (printer, scanner, catalogue computers) and guard books in the area will be moved to new locations in the Foyle Lightwell Reading Room, Issue Hall and stacks.
4 August: Building works commence. The front part of the basement (the area directly below the Issue Hall) will be closed for the duration of the works with restricted access to volumes in this area. The basement toilets will remain fully accessible.
Our building improvements are intended to help us make our collection more accessible, support the needs of our growing membership, and ensure our long-term sustainability. We are funding the improvements entirely from donations, and the funds for Phase One have already been secured.
If you would like to read more about the project, please visit the project website where you will also find detailed FAQs. If you have any further questions or comments, please get in touch with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
