Darebin Libraries was created in 1995 with the amalgamation of the Northcote and Preston library services. It has four library branches stretching from Fairfield in the south, to Northcote, Preston and Reservoir and serves an area of 153.4 km.
History
The Northcote Library was first established in 1891 and housed in a small office in the newly built Northcote Town Hall. In 1911 a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation allowed the building of a custom designed library. This building was to house the library until the early 1980s.
In 1985 a new Northcote Library was opened by the Minister for Local Government Frank Wilkes. It cost $1.7 million and impressed everyone with its vaulted ceilings and its introduction of personal computers for customers, a first in Victorian libraries.
During the 1980s and 90s Northcote won many prizes for its innovative community programs and was a hub of learning with English language classes, the University of the 3rd Age and other adult education programs.
The Preston Library was established around the same time as the Northcote Carnegie Library however the Preston community was heard to claim that unlike their southern cousins they did not need to get a grant from America to build their library.
The original Preston Library was a single storey building to the north of the Preston Town Hall.
After the First World War the library was expanded, with a second floor being added to house the R.S.L. Hall. The library and hall were demolished in the early 1970s to allow for the extension of the Town Hall. At the same time a new Preston Library was constructed in Gower Street.
Darebin Libraries
Darebin Libraries continues to provide quality library services to the residents of Northcote and Preston. It:
- has 241,000 items in its collection;
- operates four branches and a housebound library service;
- provides IT services including Internet access, word processing and wireless Internet;
- receives over 50,000 enquiries per annum;
- has 30,000 active library members; and
- has nearly 500,000 visitors each year.
Over the last few years two of the most popular features of the library service have been the addition of the Darebin Historical Encyclopedia and the Sponge Club, a children’s web site.
Darebin Libraries continues to enhance its community involvement with musical activities, art displays and a wide variety of programs including scrap booking, family history talks and bike maintenance classes.
