Thursday 3 March 2016

Our new beaut city library

This post probably won't interest anyone other than locals unless some of my Northern Hemisphere readers would like to see some blue skies :-) Last Saturday our new $27m city library opened its doors to about 9,000 visitors. On Monday my son and I went down to have a look see and it was still really busy and the staff were run off their feet but were very courteous and helpful as library staff always are. Ha ha! I used to work in a library.


The tree photographed above is in the children's section and is huge as you can tell. I am sure the local children will love sitting around it reading a book. 


We took a walk around the building as my son was experimenting with my DSLR camera and there was this old chook trying to look as if her photo wasn't being taken. LOL!
 


As you walk into the library you are greeted by the welcome sign in different languages. We have quite a few different nationalities living in our region and a large number of refugees. I didn't like to take too many photos inside as it was quite busy as I mentioned so we picked up a few books and worked out how to use the new check out system. You just put your books down on a pad which is under the screen that shows you are logged in and the number of books you have on loan or are overdue etc. and then somehow the books are scanned while in a pile without each separate barcode being scanned. I have no idea how that worked and would have asked the staff if they hadn't been too busy. It was just amazing. 

On the way out there are two return chutes which only open up when the light is green. I wouldn't be surprised if the books are scanned automatically instead of having someone there scanning each individual book that is put in the chute. Goodness me, I can still remember the card system we had when I started working in a library. How times have changed!




Outside the library is a water feature which overlooks the Civic Square and stage 1 of that has been completed.  We walked over to the grassy area to take a couple of photos.




Of course, seeing as we are called 'The Garden City' there had to be a floral theme in the Civic Square.


Underneath the library on the western side is the Cycle Hub which I believe is where people who ride to work on a bike can have a shower before work. At least I think that is the purpose of it. I am not sure how many people in Toowoomba ride to work but I guess there must be some.




 

On the exterior of the building are 780 copper panels and the library opening was delayed after final inspections showed that the insulation behind them was defective and was a fire risk so the builder had to remove each one to remedy the situation. You can read about that here if you are interested.


 

After a good look-see we headed back to the car park. Before visiting the library I had rung up to find out where the car park was as I had no idea and the staff member told me and also mentioned that there are sensor car parks which can tell how long your car has been in the car park so if you overstay your welcome you will get a fine. I dare say that isn't in force as yet as I couldn't see any signs stating that fact at all. I guess that is to make sure people don't park there all day when they are at work. There are various time limits on different car park spaces. Just a little tip for unsuspecting locals. 



While on the subject of local happenings, the Toowoomba Farmers' Market which is currently being held monthly at the Show Grounds, is going to soon be held near the Cobb and Co Museum fortnightly on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month starting on the 30th April. Thank goodness that won't clash with our Simple Living Toowoomba workshops. It's all happening in our neck of the woods! It's a great place to live....at least I think so. 

Have a great weekend everyone!




18 comments:

  1. We've got the same check out system in our library. It works easy, fine and fast; miraculous, isn't it?
    Cheers,

    Jeanneke.

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    1. Jenneke, I was gobsmacked when I realised how the check out system worked. Obviously we are heading for a self serve library to a certain extent. I wonder when machines will be developed to do the tedious shelving of books though. :-)

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  2. Hi Nannachel, I thought you'd be at the library fairly early in the piece to check it out. It sounds quite uber-modern, unlike my library visit yesterday in Allora where it is a one-woman band!

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    1. Yes I can imagine little towns wouldn't have big libraries, Barb. Warwick's is a bit bigger though but not huge.

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  3. Great minds.... I too rang the library yesterday to suss out parking provisions, and was impressed with the new set up and how patient and helpful the staff were. I think the cafe will be a great addition and encourage people to take full advantage of the complex, also a good resting spot for parents while the kids take foooreeeever to choose their books.
    There was a sign up with details of a book and furniture and fittings sale from the old library, maybecworth a look.

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    1. Margaret, I think there is still some work to be done. On Monday lots of the computers weren't ready to be used and it will certainly be great when the cafe is open.

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  4. Oh that library looks AMAZING!!!! What a beautiful spot and so magical!

    xx

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    1. Emma, your boys would love the floor to ceiling tree in the children's section.

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  5. I too remember the card system for borrowing library books, Chel. I actually still have a few of the old cards hanging around here..... for nostalgic reasons only of course. What a wonderful big tree in the childrens section - I'm sure that will be a favourite spot for many kids. My DH made a huge train for our school library - each of the carriages held all the large fiction picture books from A to Z - it was called "blinky billy" - i wonder why?

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    1. Blinky, you are sentimental to save some of the old cards. LOL! That train would have been great and I imagine the children loved it.

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  6. What a fabulous library! I hope to make it one day to those farmers markets......or even one of your simple living get togethers! One day, one day! Hope everything is going nicely for you and your family! xx kel

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    1. Kel, you would be most welcome at one of our workshops.

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    2. Thankyou! One day, I hope I can come and join in! xx

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  7. Wow! What a show piece and inspiration. I love libraries everywhere. Here in the Barossa we have one large, relatively new main library, but all of the smaller town libraries remain open at limited times. I feel as though the 'powers that be' would like to close them all down so they can concentrate on just the one library, but the locals are all adamant that each small library is precious, and I tend to agree with them. I visit our small town library more than twice every week, because they count every person who goes through the door. Hmmm... and I don't much like the reasoning behind that. We will hang on to our little library as long as we can.

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    1. Sally I think things will turn around in the future and people will get back to reading books again. Already children are being diagnosed with eye problems from using screens so much.

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  8. I love, love, love our library. We utilize it so much. You must be so pleased with the new library there and that big tree is just gorgeous!

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    1. Mel, we visit our library quite often. It has been a bit of a pain getting to the temporary library due to lack of parking but there is plenty of space for cars at the new one. I think most people would be happy with the new building.

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