19th August 2021
Our brand new, state-of-the-art library at Walyalup Civic Centre is opening later this year, and we couldn’t be more excited. Most of all, we can’t wait to share the opportunities that will be available for the community in our new library. Here are our top nine to look out for—numbers three and eight are our favourites!
1. The new Fremantle Library was designed by the internationally renowned Fremantle firm Kerry Hill Architects and built by WA construction company Pindan.
Kerry Hill Architects were also behind the incredible State Theatre Centre of WA and City of Perth Library, so we just know our spectacularly designed library is going to be a special building in the heart of Fremantle.
2. We’ll have room to grow! With double the floor space across various indoor and outdoor areas, it will be a lot easier for the library team to expand their collections, programs and community activities.
3. A dedicated children’s zone, complete with a slide. Now how cool is that! The engaging environment will inspire kids with playful design, bold colours, reading nooks and a gaming area.
4. There’s something for everyone. In addition to the children’s area, there will be various bookable meeting spaces, a maker space, high-focus study areas and casual reading lounges.
5. Device support. Expect double the number of public computers, free Wi-Fi and more access to power and data for personal charging and device usage. Win-win.
6. Borrowing made easy. Additional radio frequency identification (RFID) technology will be implemented to allow the borrowing and returning of items to be much more seamless and convenient.
7. Complementing the book collection will be an increased digital collection, offering library members free access to more than 82,000 digital items comprising books, magazines, movies, music and audiobooks. The uptake of digital services has been on the rise and was particularly noticeable through COVID-19 when usage increased dramatically, with magazines by 235 per cent, audiobooks by 20 per cent and films by 50 per cent.
8. A larger and better equipped Fremantle Local History Centre will take pride of place in the library. It will have a specialised climate-controlled storage area in an environmentally monitored space, as well as digital microfilm readers and printers. The best part? A large 65-inch interactive surface screen where digitised materials from the City of Fremantle history collection, such as photographs and maps, will be displayed.
9. OK, technically this is not part of the library, but it sits right outside so we’re claiming it! Families will love the new Fremantle themed adventure playground featuring cranes, bridges, train tracks, shipping containers, water features and trees.
Overall, there are so many exciting features in our new library that we can’t wait to unveil to the community. In the meantime, pop into the library at Fremantle Oval to check out the 3D model on display and chat to staff about any questions you may have about the new library.
To become a Fremantle Library member, visit fremantle.wa.gov.au/library
This article has been republished from the City of Fremantle FRE-OH! magazine. Click here to read the article on page 20.
