Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan has called on the State Government to fund an urgent extension of the Endeavour Hills Library. He visited the library and met officer Julia Brosinsky.By Rebecca Fraser
A LOCAL MP has said Endeavour Hills Library needs an urgent extension and called on the State Government to approve an application for more funds.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said the increase in Endeavour Hills’ population meant that the current building was not able to satisfactorily serve residents’ needs.
Mr Donnellan said the library was built in 1987 for a population of about 15,000 people, but there are now 27,000 residents living in the area.
He said local residents continued to demand that the library be expanded and the facilities improved.
Mr Donnellan recently visited the library and said facilities such as reading room space, an expansion of the book collection, and increased internet and computer facilities had been limited, due to the current floor space being only 560 square metres.
Nevertheless, Mr Donnellan said the Endeavour Hills Library had been heavily utilised over the years by culturally diverse communities and secondary and tertiary students.
“The library has been too restrictive in its service towards the community, due to a lack of building space for study materials and a range of multi-languages services.
“The building requires a significant facelift to improve public presentation, new carpets, new circulation desk and an improved entrance, as well as a move towards contemporary colours and finishes,” he said.
Last September, Casey Council applied for funds to extend the library on behalf of the Casey and Cardinia Library Corporation (CCLC).
Councillor Rob Wilson moved that an application be made to the department of Victorian communities, Living Libraries Program, for an approximate 240 square metre extension to the library.
The project would see the number of public internet terminals increase to eight, shelf capacity increase to 35,000 items from 30,903, as well as improvements to the library’s Chinese language collection, an increase in study space and new furniture, seating and fittings.
Council estimates that the works will cost about $800,000 to complete and council would need to consider matching the $400,000 from the Living Libraries Program in the 2006-07 capital works program if the application was approved.
CEO of the CCLC, Peter Carter, said the library was in need of a facelift.
“The building is very bland.
“The location is great but it needs to be made more functional, contemporary and attractive,” he said.
