AS the doors to the new Armidale Memorial Library open, the doors on an issue that has divided the community for years finally close.
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The high-tech, open, light space is a far cry from the previous premises on Faulkner Street, and it’s now open to the public.
Library manager Ian Greenhalgh said the new library has nearly twice the floor space of the old one.
“The most wonderful thing is the sense of scale and the abundance of light and space when people come in,” he said.
“It takes people back just to experience the height of that ceiling, the open light-well, all of that – it’s just superb.”
Features of the new library include bookable boardrooms, wireless internet connection, a youth space and a maker’s lab.
The maker’s lab is a space to work on projects, brainstorm ideas and create.
“That sort of incubator idea is how we would hope, if the word got out in the community, they would think of us as a place where ideas and things to advance the community and it’s cohesiveness can happen,” Mr Greenhalgh said.
“This is the primary nature of the library, where a community comes together to share things.
The library in the past has been a place where we’ve shared physical manifestations of knowledge, but it’s about being generous to the whole community and inviting them in here to use the place in a way that respects other people in the community but creates something really wonderful for this place.”
Upstairs in one of the meeting rooms, a crochet group that meets twice a week at the library checked out the new space.
Group member Janine Gully said she liked the lightness and openness, but hopes there will be a coffee facility for patrons.
“I really like the stairs too, especially as you get older and you’ve got the hips, knees and everything going,” she said.
“It’s a good space for the community.”
The Armidale Memorial Library has one of the largest collections of public library material for its population size.
More than 40 per cent of the community have library memberships.
“We anticipate there will be a whole lot more people joining, borrowing and visiting the space in Armidale,” Mr Greenhalgh said.
The library elevator is not yet up and running, but is expected to be completed within a month.
The new library premises is located at 182 Rusden Street.