The reading room roof is mended
After two winters of buckets, the roof over the reading room is sound. 1,300 neighbours paid for it.
For two winters the reading room had buckets in it. The roof over the arched window let in rain in three places, and on wet days we moved the newspapers to the study room.
As of this week it is mended: new lead on the valleys, forty slates replaced, and the old timber over the window strengthened rather than replaced, so the arch keeps its shape.
Who paid
The work cost £86,000. The city gave £30,000 and a heritage fund £20,000. The rest, £36,000, came from 1,300 neighbours, in gifts from £2 to £2,000.
Their names are in a book on the front desk. Ask to see it.
What changes
Nothing you’ll notice, which is the point. The reading room stays open every day, the buckets have gone back to the garden, and the newspapers are back under the window.
