Hobsons Bay council is opening a new pop-up library, complete with Council+ services, at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, while the Altona Meadows Library is being refurbished.
The Altona Meadows Library is closing on Friday, December 23, so works can begin on a signficant redevelopment in January.
The refurbished library will feature a new children’s area, environmentally sustainable aspects, technology pods, landscaping on the external courtyard and the council’s first centre of excellence.
Hobsons Bay’s Centres of Excellence will each have a unique theme, across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, technology and programming.
The Council+ pop-up library will open at the Central Square Shopping Centre in mid-January, with visitors able to collect their reserves, return items, use a public computer and have council queries answered.
Hobsons Bay deputy mayor Diana Grima said the refurbishment of the Altona Meadows library is a priority in council’s plan.
“The Altona Meadows Library has served our community well for 17 years, and attracts 30,000 visitors each year,” she said.
“This redevelopment will give us a modern new facility that meets the standards our community expects and will allow us to plan for some exciting new initiatives.”
The Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre is being delivered thanks to a $500,000 contribution from the state government through its Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and a $1.54 million contribution from Hobsons Bay council.
Hobsons Bay councillor Matt Tyler said having library services available is essential for the community.
“I love our libraries – they’re places to connect, learn and explore,” he said.
“Building on everything that makes our libraries great, I’m thrilled to see council investing to make them even better including through the programs, collections and experiences associated with each Centre of Excellence.”
More than 17 years old, the Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre requires major refurbishment to modernise the building and allow the council to plan for some new initiatives.
