A number of us were fortunate enough to be invited to the opening by Simon Corbell, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, of the new Gungahlin library on 17 June 2011. The opening of a new public library is a very rare event. It is a new purpose built library that incorporates a number of gee whiz facilities that many of us wish for but never get. These features include feature free internet access, a media zone with DVDs and CDs, a café, an interactive soccer game for youngsters and an outdoor courtyard. What I liked most about the new library was its spacious light airiness and the enthusiasm of the staff that seem to enjoy working in this clean bright new building. A lot of planning and thought has been put into the Library – this shows in such things as the thematic organisation of the book collects such as Home and garden, Health etc and then sub arranged in to the Dewy number systems. However this larger grouping works better for the average library user who wants to browse and find things easily rather than having to navigate the complexities of the Dewey Decimal system.'
The Government has invested approximately $12 million dollars into the new library as part of the Gunghalin College project which also includes Gungahlin College Library Zone and CIT and Community Rooms. All in all this form so part of the wider educational precinct in Gungahlin and makes the overall zone, a delightful piece of public space. What topped off my pleasure in the new library was the memoralisation of Michael Salmon’s books, the Monster that ate Canberra with the new statue of the Monster at the front of the library. This ties the new building in with the wider history of the National Capital in the form of bunyip whimsy. I suggest you go out and look at the new library yourselves both as librarians and library users as then at least you can say you have been there and done that.
Several interesting features on the library were broadcast on ABC radio 666
