Lithgow Library will be undergoing an internal refurbishment over the next few months following receipt of grant funding from the State Library of NSW. As part of planning the refurbishment, Library customers are being asked for comment on the relocation of several key zones within the building.
Community surveys in 2021 and 2022 highlighted the need to provide more event space, a larger children’s area, better access to local history and quieter places to read and study. These responses formed part of the successful grant application and the subsequent planning stages of the project.
The refurbishment will include mobile shelving, updated furnishings, meeting pods and audiovisual technology. The improvements will bring a more flexible, functional space that allows for quiet study, large events, children’s activities, as well as traditional library functions such as books and research.
Zone changes that the Library would like feedback on are a multipurpose event and children’s space and moving the Local History collection to the front of the Library near the service desk.
Relocating the local history collection to the front of the Library into Zone 1 (see diagram) aims to provide better access to the Local History collection and to highlight the importance of our unique Local History resources. Current Local History open hours are restricted to 10.00am to 12.00pm Monday to Friday or by appointment. Moving Local History to near the service desk will allow for enquiries during normal Lithgow Library opening hours, and will also allow staff to guide customers through the beginnings of their research journey. Appointments will still be available for those requiring more in-depth assistance.
The second major change to the Library floor plan will be moving the children’s area into Zone 3 in the heart of the Library. Children’s events at the Library are very popular and this new zone will provide a larger space to hold children’s activities.
Anyone who has attended a large event at the Library knows that the current event space near the front doors can become overwhelmed by the numbers of people attending.
The proposed children’s space in Zone 3 will also double as a large event space which will allow for better setup for events such as book launches, history talks and live music.
Furniture and shelving in the children’s area can be easily moved to allow for more space when needed. The addition of a fixed projector and screen with inbuilt sound system will provide a better experience during presentations and to run movies and other streaming presentations.
With Local History moving to Zone 1, the mezzanine space (Zone 5) will become a lounge/study area. This area is the best place in the Library away from some of the day-to-day hubbub of Library operations. A flexible furniture layout conducive to group and individual study will be a feature of this space.
Library customers are asked to provide feedback in writing on the layout changes by Friday 15 September 2023. Responses can be emailed to council@lithgow.nsw.gov.au, dropped into any of the library branches or customer service at Lithgow City Council. Please mark to the attention of the Library Coordinator.
