Early opening on the books
THE new $8 million Grafton library will open early March – three months ahead of schedule – and would be open already but for wet weather delays.
Grafton
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THE new $8 million Grafton library will open early March - three months ahead of schedule - and would be open already but for wet weather delays.
Contractors will soon hand the building, to be known as Sir Earle Page Learning and Education Centre, to Clarence Valley Council for fitting out.
Director environment, planning and community Des Schroder said the official hand-over would take place in the next week or so and the council would begin moving in books and equipment from the old library.
Mr Schroder said the new building offered a lot more than the previous library.
"We will be able to have more books on display than before, because we had a lot more in storage in the regional library at South Grafton," he said.
"The new building is going to have a lot more electronic learning capability, there will be special breakout areas for special groups, and underneath we have access for Southern Cross and University of New England students.
"Council has also picked up an $800,000 grant to help us get kids from our region into university."
Mr Schroder said the library's traditional function could not be ignored.
"Traditional book lending is still growing," he said. "But you would have to say libraries overall are morphing into something more than just a book borrowing service."
Mr Schroder said the building interior had been designed to provide maximum flexibility.
"There's not too many fixed walls," he said. "If we need to create spaces for particular activities, it's possible to create them without too much bother."
Mr Schroder said the contractors did a fantastic job considering the flooding in the region last year, which delayed construction for two months.
Originally published as Early opening on the books
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