This was the moment building work began on a �14.8 million library facility at the University of East London Stratford campus.

A “turning of the turf” ceremony was held in front of guests from the University and construction company Volker Fitzpatrick outside the Sir John Cass School of Education and Communities on Monday October 10 to mark the start of building work on the state-of-the-art library facility.

Paul Chopra, UEL Stratford Campus library manager, and Andy Stoney, Volker Fitzpatrick operations director, were the first to dig in to the site before a bulldozer took over to ensure the project would meet its completion date in early 2013.

The library, at the Stratford campus on Water Lane, will boast the latest technology with an advanced digital library, self-issue and return services and an automatic book sorter.

The interior will be enhanced by a landscaped internal garden situated within a central atrium.

Paul Chopra, library manager, said: “It’s great to see building work commence on this exciting new project which, when it opens in 2013, will add so much to the student experience for those studying at Stratford.”