Thirty years ago, Paul Keating was Prime Minister; Jeff Kennett was Premier of Victoria. Ray Martin was hosting the popular Midday Show and Whitney Houston was hitting the airwaves. Books by children’s author Paul Jennings were popular.
By 1990, Lalor Library was under pressure for another library, so the City of Whittlesea fully committed financially to a second library. A site was chosen in Main Street Thomastown, next door to the Indoor Sports Stadium. The Mobile Library had already been visiting for some time.
YPRL’s seventh branch library opened on 26 May 1993, at one stage mooted as the Thomastown West branch. It incorporated the latest technology and was well stocked featuring 20,600 items including popular fiction and paperbacks, a wide range of non-fiction, magazines, videos and music in Italian, Macedonia and Turkish. It also had an extensive children’s collection and Apple computers for public use.
Visitors to the library built up over coming years partially due to the number of programs held with preschool story times, “tiny tots” sessions and regular reading club meetings for Primary School children. Multilingual storytimes were also held with visits by staff to local kindergartens, play groups and childcare centres.
The Thomastown Library Circulation desk 2015
Events over the years have included: a zoo visit, (with those brave enough, having a snake draped around their shoulders!), many multicultural events as well as participating in region wide programs such as the Summer Reading Club.
In 2004 a large site-specific mosaic by artist Glynis Bryden was installed in the sunny courtyard area. An image of water, inspired by nearby Edgars Creek is a metaphor for migration and change.
In 2012, the Thomastown Neighbourhood House was established in the library.
In 2016, an upgrade resulted in an entrance update, addition of children’s play area, new carpet, shelving, and book chute. The removal of the imposing circulation desk and introduction of self-service pods.
The Textiles and Craft Maker Space was also established then and remains a popular gathering place for all. The TASLE (Thomastown And Surrounds Lacemaking Enthusiasts) Group was recently established where expert bobbin lacemakers demonstrate and teach bobbin lace techniques.
The library works with other collocated services within the same building including Maternal Children Health Services and Aurora Disabilities Support Services. Community rooms available for community use also bring people into the building providing ongoing opportunities to socialise and learn and engage with the library’s collection and programs.
We are looking forward to upcoming refurbishment plans and the next 30 years.
