In 2011 Adelaide City Council asked the community what they wanted their library service to be. It was clear they wanted more than a traditional lending library. They wanted a place to go; where they could connect with other people and find out what was going on in Adelaide. The community wanted to learn and be inspired but they needed help to make the most of the internet and new technologies. They wanted to be introduced to the future, but stay connected to the past.
People spoke of their ideal library as a village green or a community hub. They wanted it to be a place where everyone is welcome and good things happen.
In 2011 Adelaide City Council asked the community what they wanted their library service to be. It was clear they wanted more than a traditional lending library. They wanted a place to go; where they could connect with other people and find out what was going on in Adelaide. The community wanted to learn and be inspired but they needed help to make the most of the internet and new technologies. They wanted to be introduced to the future, but stay connected to the past.
People spoke of their ideal library as a village green or a community hub. They wanted it to be a place where everyone is welcome and good things happen.
As a result of this feedback, Council developed a new Library Vision which puts our libraries at the heart of a strong and productive community. It is an ambitious vision, and we are committed to making it a reality through improved library programs and services.
At the moment the city has four small libraries: in North Adelaide, Hutt Street, Grote Street and North Terrace. These are excellent lending libraries with popular programs, especially in digital technologies. But they are small, inflexible spaces that do not function as community hubs and have no room for expansion – they cannot fulfil the community’s vision.
The new City Library will fulfil this vision, now and into the future. It will still be a place for books and information, but it will provide more space for people to connect to each other, to our city, and to ideas that will shape our future. It will be a welcoming place to relax and reflect. It will be a place to create and debate and be inspired. It will be your Place, and what happens in the City Library will depend on you. I look forward to sharing this space with you.
This consultation has now concluded.
