Lalor Library can be found in the heart of the May Road shopping centre and has been a long-time well-loved part of the local diverse and multicultural community.
It officially opened 50 years ago on November 11, 1976. The original pre-fabraicated building was “carpeted, air-conditioned and computerised for fast borrowing and returning of books.. .with a functional appearance, bordering on the austere which suits its temporary purpose.”*
In June, the Shire of Whittlesea had joined the Heidelberg Regional L ibrary Service (forerunner of YPRL). The library was a first for the Shire, having had operated a bookmobile service up to this time.
Collections included volumes in Greek and Italian, story-telling cassettes and board games for children.
Lalor Library, 1985
A permanent building, the library we know today finally opened in 1985, on the site of the original building built on land, at one time farmed by the Mann family. The large, attractive builidng enabled the introduction of new services, and the development of collections including establishing a local history collection (later re-located to Mill Park library). Public computers were introduced for the first time, prooving very popular with time limits on use put in place. The library received overwhelming public support.
Pet shows were a popular annual holiday activity in the early years. In 1991 Prime Minister Bob Hawke drew crowds of visitors. Numerous extensions and renovations have taken place over the years including in 2003 and 2006. A community art mural was created for an inside wall as part of this refurbishment featuring 21 butterflies, each unique, emerging from the pages of a book all made from mosaic tiles by NEAMI artists.
Further renovations took place in 2013 when the heating and cooling system was replaced with a climate control system and improvements were made to the public foyer, seating, signage and library toilets.
A busy circulation desk in 1996
The Find My Place program was run for several years. The popular program motivated and supported students in Years 9-11 identified by their school as being at risk of disengaging from formal education and who would benefit from an alternative learning environment. This highly effective and valued program provided library-based activities over an 8-week period.
Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food mobile kitchen visited Lalor in 2016, offering residents a five-week course on how to prepare and cook healthy food.
In 2024 the library undertook further renovations including painting the interior.
The library has a popular toy library.
Staff speak a variety of languages and community collections have always been a popular part of the library's offerings.
Partnerships over the years have included City of Whittlesea, Whittlesea Community Connections, Whittlesea Chinese Association, Whittlesea Historical Society, St Luke’s Primary School, Lalor Men’s Shed, Peter Lalor Vocational College and many more.
Visitors and groups using the community rooms also connect with the library.
Lalor works closely with Thomastown library and continues to be a hub for a multicultural and multi-lingual community where social connections lie at its heart for its local aging community as well as young families.
We congratulate our staff, past and present and the community on 50 years of community service.
Check out this video local children made in 2016. I love Lalor Library