Library refurbishment

The University, as part of the Estates Campus Development programme over the next few years, we are creating a new 150-seater PC Lab on the third floor of the David Wilson Library. The PC Lab will support computer-based teaching across all Schools and Departments as well as being open access to all staff and students outside of teaching events. This will increase the number of PCs available in the Library by 100 overall.

Following feedback from our users this refurbishment provides the opportunity to add an additional four Group Study rooms and refresh the current study spaces in this area with a mixture of study spaces to enhance user experience and promote the Library as a facilitator of learning.

Timeline

The project will begin in July 2026 and this area will remain closed until January 2027 when the new space will become available.

Enabling Works

• These will begin in from the week beginning 22nd June 2026 and run through to the end of August.

Building Closures

• The Library will be closed from 2.00am on Saturday 18 and reopen at 8.00am on Monday 20 July 2026
• The Library will be closed from 2.00am on Saturday 29 and reopen at 8.00am on Monday 31 August 2026

Construction

• Work to create the new spaces will begin in September and run through to December.

Fit-out

• The furniture and IT equipment will be installed in early January 2027

Grand Opening

• The space will re-open for teaching and study from mid-January 2027

Enabling Works (22 June to 30 August 2026)

To prepare the space for construction there will be several things happening in the next few weeks.

• The shelves in the area have already been cleared and the books relocated. The shelves will start to be taken down and removed
• The furniture in this area will start to be cleared with some study spaces relocated
• PC Zone 3.0 will be closed -6 July 2026
• Scaffolding will be erected to enable new glazing panels to be installed
• Hoardings will be installed around the construction space 

Building Closures

There will be two building closures in July and August 2026 to prepare the space for construction

Library Closed Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July 2026

The Library will close at 2.00am on Saturday 18 July and remain closed until 8.00am Monday 20 July 2026.

This closure is a precautionary measure to help ensure the safety of students, staff, members of the public and contractors whilst scaffolding is erected so the glass panels can be installed.

There will be no access to the Library during the closure. Study spaces for students will be available in other buildings on campus, and enquiry, phone and online services will continue as normal.

If you have any questions, please contact the Library team by email at library@leicester.ac.uk or by phone on 0116 252 2048.

We apologise for the inconvenience and thank students, staff and members of the public for their patience while this essential work is completed.

Library Closed Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026

The Library will close at 2.00am on Saturday 29 and remain closed until 8am on Monday 31 August 2026 to allow scaffolding to be safely removed from the building.

Noise

During the enabling works we expect noise from the construction process, including drilling. 

There will continue to be noise associated with the construction process throughout September through to December. We will endeavour to minimise this as much as possible and restrict noisy work to specific periods of the day.

We understand that this will impact on those using the library, therefore quieter spaces will be identified around the Library. If University staff and students would prefer to work elsewhere, we will be signposting to campus wide study spaces and computer rooms (log in required). External users should speak to staff at the Information Hub for help in locating a quieter space.

Additionally ear plugs will be available from the Information Hub