March 1976 seems a world away – a lot's changed in half a century.
Malcolm Fraser had been PM for just 4 months, following the dismissal of Gough Whitlam in 1975; big league footy was played by just 12 Victorian teams, all six games on Saturday afternoon; and we sang along to monster hits like Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Abba's Fernando and Dancing Queen, and Howzat from Sherbet.
And Glen Waverley welcomed a brand new, much-needed, library.
Our library team recently discovered and dusted off the original press release that proudly heralded the opening of the new library, the document shining a light on how far library services have come in 50 years and how Glen Waverley library has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community.
Like a proud new parent, the press release announced:
"The new Glen Waverley branch of Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library will be open to the public on Monday, 15th March."
The thought of a Monash Public Library Service and its 6 branches was scarcely a lightbulb flicker in someone's imagination, while the City of Monash itself wouldn't exist until the amalgamation of the City of Oakleigh and City of Waverley two decades later in December 1994.
The library location, at the end of Kingsway just a stone's throw from Springvale Road, was still a blank canvas with the Harry Seidler-designed civic centre not built until 1982-85.
The announcement document spruiked:
"The usual services will be offered, including collections for children, adults and teenagers. Special features include a lending collection of posters, a lending collection of large print books for the elderly or partially sighted, and a reference collection for use on premises."
And that:
"The new library will have a book stock of 35,000 books."
In the half-century since the first book was date-stamped for an eager borrower, the modern library has been transformed.
We now have self-check kiosks; online catalogues; digital magazines, books, newspapers and films while members can access services via a library app and a website rather than stepping through the front door.
The City of Monash has evolved into a wonderfully diverse community, and the Glen Waverley Library has kept pace with that change, now boasting an extensive collection of graphic novels, manga and materials in languages other than English.
And the Seed Library and Library of Things would have seemed the stuff of dreams to library users in 1976.
In the half-century since it opened, the Glen Waverley Library has significantly changed the way it operates.
Back in March 1976: "The library will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11.00am to 9.00pm, and on Saturday from 9.30 till noon" with a "total regular staff of 15".
Though staff numbers are similar these days, roles have become far more specialised in a modern library while, with online catalogues, a library website and apps, opening hours are closer to a 24/7 operation than the strict 11am to 9pm of 50 years ago.
Now we're building a bigger, better library that will serve Glen Waverley, and Monash, for the next 50 years and beyond. Stay up to date with project timelines and information, including temporary library sites at monlib.vic.gov.au/library
