Northern Beaches Libraries
| Northern Beaches Libraries | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | May 12, 2016 (from council merger) |
| Branches | 6 |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | 334,997[1] |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 1,393,472 (2020-2021)[1] |
| Population served | 274,041[1] |
| Members | 197,730[1] |
| Other information | |
| Employees | 80 (2020-2021)[1] |
| Parent organisation | Northern Beaches Council |
Northern Beaches Libraries is the public library service of the Northern Beaches in Greater Sydney, Australia.[2]
History
[edit]The Northern Beaches Council was made of a merger of the Manly, Pittwater, and Warringah councils of in May 2016, which meant that the council's separate library services were also merged into Northern Beaches Libraries.[3]
In February 2025, Northern Beaches Libraries introduced "light memberships", a limited type of membership that proof-of-address is not needed for.[4]
Branches
[edit]Northern Beaches Libraries has six branches - Dee Why, Forrestville, Glen Street, Manly, Mona Vale, and Warringah Mall.[5]
Dee Why Library is in the Warringah Civic Centre, and was the first Northern Beaches library building to be purpose-built as a library.[6] It was designed by Edwards Madigan and won a Sir John Sulman Medal in 1966 the year it was completed.[6] In 2004 Dee Why Library was considered for demolition to make space for the new Northern Beaches Hospital, but French's Forest was chosen for the location instead.[6] Dee Why Library has a department specifically for Tibetan books[7] and a bi-weekly Tibetan storytime.[8]
Manly Library was opened in 1901, with a room rented out from the local School of Arts by the Manly Council.[9] It was originally a non-lending library.[10] Mona Vale Library opened on the 3rd of September 1972.[11] The Cubby House Toy Library was opened in 2013 and functions out of the Manly and Mona Vales branches.[12]
Forestville 24/7 library
[edit]The Forestville branch library is open 24/7. It was one of the first in Australia[2] following Parkes Shire Council (NSW) in 2016, and South Gippsland Shire Council (Victoria) in 2019 [13] and the first in Sydney.[14] The 24/7 library was pioneered by librarian Allison Hamilton, who was nominated for an ALIA Excellence Award as a result of her success in the project, and the support she gave to other libraries interested in implementing their own 24/7 libraries.[15]
The desire for a 24-hour library first started during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was idea was developed over two years. Forestville Library ran a three-month trial for 24/7 opening times starting on Monday 29 August 2022. During the trial, 21% of visits were outside normal library hours[13] and there was an 11% increase in memberships[2] leading the 24/7 hours becoming permanent.
Outside of staffed hours, member enter the library by scanning their library card and entering their pin number associated with the card.[14] Only library members aged sixteen or older can use the library during these hours.[13]
Controversies
[edit]In February 2023, Manly library was the subject of protests and larger counter protests in response to its drag queen storytime.[16][17] The library received a bomb threat in relation to the event, which was not made public by police until after the event.[18]
In 2019, internet filters were installed on library computers after a man was filmed watching pornography at Manly Library.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Morrison, Kathy (2022-04-01). "Public Library Statistics 2020–21, Public Library Statistics in New South Wales" (PDF). State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ a b c Smart, Alec (2023-03-16). "Forestville Library 24-hours-a-day trial becomes permanent". Manly Observer. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ "Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 [NSW] - Schedule 13 - Provisions for Northern Beaches Council" (PDF). Legislation.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales. 2012. p. 25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Libraries expand membership options". Pittwater Life March 2025 Issue. 2025-03-01. p. 36.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Library locations and opening hours". Northern Beaches Council. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ a b c "Col Madigan's iconic Dee Why Library celebrates 50 years". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Tsering, Dawa (2023-06-09). "New Section for Tibetan Books Set Up at Residential Library of Dee Why, Australia". Central Tibetan Administration. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Crawford, Pippa. "Tibetan exiles are on the move again". Prospect Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ "MANLY FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY". Daily Telegraph. 1901-09-25. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ "MANLY FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY". Evening News. 1903-05-15. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ Cohen, Dale (2022-09-05). "Lifelong love for library". Northern Beaches Advocate. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Cohen, Dale (2024-09-17). "Toy library gets Council tick". Northern Beaches Advocate. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ a b c Ward, Mary (2023-03-25). "In this sleepy Sydney suburb, a 24-hour venue is thriving". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ a b "Northern Beaches launches Sydney's first 24 hour local library". Manly Observer. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ "Announcing the NSW Library & Information Excellence Award 2024 Shortlist". alia.org.au. Archived from the original on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ "'Love is love': Drag queen storytime at Sydney library goes ahead amid bomb threat, protests". SBS News. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Rogers, Destiny (2023-02-25). "Liars, haters & fakers: Manly Library Protest". QNews. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Observer, Manly (2023-02-25). "Police respond to bomb threat; Rainbow counter protest drowns out drag queen story hour protest at Manly Library". Manly Observer. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Singhal, Pallavi (2019-11-27). "Sydney library installs internet filters after man caught watching porn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2025-04-19.