Renovation of reading rooms A, B and the Special Collections Reading Room
Reading rooms A and B, the Special Collections Reading Room, and certain staff areas at Carolina Rediviva are being renovated. The work is being carried out in stages and began in January 2025.
By carefully renovating and modernising the rooms, the aim is to restore, preserve and improve a much-appreciated environment for study and work.
This page will be updated continuously with information about the renovation and how it may affect you as a visitor.
Please note
- Reading rooms A and B are closed and will reopen during autumn 2026.
- During the renovation period, there will be noise and other sounds that may be perceived as disruptive.
- Please stay informed about the Special Collections Reading Room’s opening hours. We may need to close the Special Collections Reading Room temporarily at short notice due to the renovation.
Library services during the construction period
Study spaces: The Carolina Library has a total of about 800 seats, of which 120 are in reading rooms A and B. We are investigating whether we can add some extra seats in other seating areas. The subject libraries have a total of about 400 quiet study spaces.
Access to the collections: Evacuated material from rooms A and B can be ordered as a 7-day in-house loan and picked up from the in-house loan depot.
Special Collections Reading Room: is temporarily replaced by a room on the third floor.
Non-Swedish items kept on microfilm have been temporarily relocated. They can only be requested via The Library Search Tool.
All items located in the Music Collections Room (E-salen) have been temporarily moved to storage and must be requested via The Library Search Tool.
Preliminary schedule
Reading rooms A and B
2025
- May: the collections in reading rooms A and B are moved.
- June: reading rooms A and B close after the end of the semester.
- September: start of construction
2026
- March: construction contract finished
- April-June: furnishing and adaptations
- September: completed
Special Collections Reading Room
2025
- The Special Collections Reading Room has temporarily moved to Floor 3.
- The Special Collections Reading Room is closed June 23 – July 25 2025.
2026
- The newly renovated Special Collections Reading Room on Floor 4 will open in summer 2026.
What will be done during the renovation?
Carolina Rediviva is owned and managed by the National Property Board (In Swedish, Statens fastighetsverk or SFV). SFV is planning a surface renovation (floors, walls, and ceilings), and will review electrical wiring, general lighting, windows, plumbing and more.
The aim is to improve the environment for research and study by:
- accentuating the culture and history of the premises and restoring furnishings and details to their original state
- removing bookcases and shelves that are unsightly or impair ventilation
- increasing the number of study places to a degree
- improving ventilation
- adding accessible seating
- improving site lighting.
Reading rooms A and B
Reading Rooms A and B will undergo a refurbishment of surface finishes, as well as an overhaul of electrical, ventilation and heating systems, general lighting, and window renovation. Alongside these improvements, the University Library will review functionality and security, so that these environments are perceived as secure and inviting.
Careful renovation will restore the elegant original character of these rooms. In addition, the furnishings will be restored and reused to retain the rooms' unique character while minimising environmental impact.
Reading room A
- original furniture renovated
- number of seats increases from 75 to 110
- ventilation improved
- bookcases and floor-mounted shelves removed
- improved site lighting
Reading room B
- tables renovated and supplemented with height-adjustable tables
- more flexible chairs
- bookcases and floor-mounted bookshelves removed
- improved site lighting
Special Collections Reading Room
The renovation will
- provide higher security for entry and exit, handling and storage of materials
- enable the study of larger format media such as maps
- enable conversations related to the study of materials.
