The University of Groningen Library City Centre was fundamentally renovated between 2013 and 2017, resulting in some inconvenience for our visitors. As we wanted to provide as many study places as possible during the construction, the Library remained open.

The project was originally named UB2020 to indicate the duration of the construction works – initially planned to last until 2020 – to keep the inconvenience for visitors to a minimum. However, later the decision was made to speed up the renovation. On the one hand, this caused more inconvenience for visitors but the fact that the constructions works would end three years earlier than planned, was decisive. Finally, and for the first time since its foundation, the University Library City Centre closed its doors for five weeks in the summer of 2016 to allow for complicated construction works in the hallway and stairwell.

It all was not for nothing: from mid May 2017 on, we will provide more than 2,100 state-of-the-art study and work places equipped with more sockets and super quick wireless internet for UG students and staff. The study and work environment was upgraded enormously due to an increased use of daylight, improved air quality and a better arrangement of the different kinds of study places.

No more noise, no more inconvenience. Peace and calm return to the University of Groningen Library City Centre:

The University of Groningen Library: Where the Shhh happens