City of Coffs Harbour's ground-breaking library will celebrate 60 years of delivering for the community, with the celebrations set to be a compelling page-turner.
On Monday 15 April the new Harry Bailey Memorial Library at Yarrila Place will mark its diamond anniversary with a morning tea from 11 o'clock.
Fittingly, the party will include a couple of hundred cupcakes at the swish multi-level library where one of the most sought-after items to borrow are special occasion cake tins.
"The Harry Bailey Memorial Library has long been a treasured place to meet, learn and be entertained, and the latest chapter since its move to Yarrila Place has been wonderfully received," City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Paul Amos said.
"While physical books are at its heart there is so much more at the new library including technology, video, programs and platforms for creativity."
The first central library opened its doors in 1964 and is named after WH ('Harry') Bailey, who died in office as president of the Coffs Harbour Shire Council in 1965.
That year one of the top-selling books on the planet was Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Playing to that theme, community members at the anniversary morning tea will be able to search for 'golden tickets' just like Charlie found in a chocolate bar – with some great prizes up for grabs.
The triumph of the Harry Bailey Memorial Library at its new location on Gordon St is in the numbers.
More than 260,000 people have trooped through the doors in the six months since it opened.
More broadly, City of Coffs Harbour's library services (which include branch libraries at Toormina and Woolgoolga), also paint a remarkable picture.
Membership now sits at some 44,500 – equivalent to about 54 per cent of the population who call the Coffs Harbour local government area home.
The library service supports more than 35 local book clubs and has over 100 clients using the house-bound outreach service.
"Justice of the Peace services have also proven to be extremely popular. They have been operating at the Harry Bailey Memorial Library since October and in that time they have helped more than 500 clients with over 1000 documents signed," City of Coffs Harbour City Planning and Communities Director Chris Chapman said.
There's also been evolution at Woolgoolga and Toormina libraries with the addition of beautiful murals. In May all libraries will get a technology upgrade to a new discovery platform which will help members and visitors more easily find library resources.
Woolgoolga will also see an installation of a smart returns shelf, improved concierge desk and iPad hublet in the near future.
Community members are invited to attend the 60th anniversary morning tea at the Harry Bailey Memorial Library from 11am to midday on Monday 15 April.
