Yarra Plenty Regional Library celebrated the 10th anniversary of Mill Park Library’s opening with a day of celebrations. The award-winning Library, designed by prominent Melbourne architects Oaten Stanistreet, opened in 2002 at a cost of $8 million and was awarded the Victorian Engineering Excellence Award in October 2003. One of Victoria’s largest public libraries, it was the first to be built on the concept of a hybrid digital/print library.
The community was invited to visit the library from 10.30am – 4.00pm on Saturday 23 June, for a free family day, which featured musical and multicultural entertainment, Bunnings craft activities, chess workshops, jumping castle, mobile animal farm, sausage sizzle, face painting, showbags and balloons, random acts of book kindness, and even roving Star Wars characters.
“This library is not only a highly visible landmark in the City of Whittlesea with its spaceship-like facade, but it has also become a much loved destination – the community loves it for its modern facilities, excellent services and programs, and abundance of bright natural light. We are delighted to be celebrating the library’s 10th year, and look forward to the next 10 years providing library services to the community.”
City of Whittlesea Mayor Cr. Stevan Kozmevski says the library has become a valued community space and resource over the past 10 years.
On what was possibly the busiest day ever in an Australian public library, more than 5,000 people visited on its opening day.
Today, the library has more than half a million loans and 200,000 visits a year, and more than 15,000 people attend activities there.
The library boasts freeInternet access and WiFi, public computers, multilingual staff, two Nintendo Wiis, a 16-seat computer room, bilingual Italian storytimes, and a wide range of events ranging from storytimes to iPad workshops to a paranormal discussion group.
