Replacing 45 year old shelves and installing a machine to automate the sorting of returned books were some of the changes made at Lismore Library, as part of a $198,000 refurbishment.

The Library has seen a few changes over the past few months, including new carpet and seating – as unveiled today in the library’s official reopening.

Lismore librarian Lucy Kinsley shows off the new automated returns machine.

Lismore Librarian Lucy Kinsley said the refurbishments began during the Covid period - and she was happy to see the library become more modernised.

Other new library features include: a castle where young children can sit and enjoy browsing and reading books; two new service desks, featuring photographs of local scenes by local photographers, Mark Seiffert, Narelle Jarvis and Hugh Nicholson; and freshly repainted internal walls and internal signage.

The Library re-opened in July following the refurbishment, but the official opening was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Lismore librarian Lucy Kinsley said in addition to new shelving, some shelving is now on wheels allowing library staff to make space for events, as well as adjustable shelving to display items.

"Hydraulic desks have also been installed to allow staff to adjust heights to better serve children and those in a wheelchair," Lucy said. "To improve efficiency, an automated returns chute with three bins was installed to get returned books back on the shelves and available."

Cr Neil Marks, Lucy Kinsley and MP Janelle Saffin enjoy the library.

Covid - click and collect

Lucy said when the library closed during the Covid period and the click and collect for books was introduced, she had up to 15 tables at any one time stacked with books waiting to go out to happy readers.

“Loans never really dropped off,” Lucy said. “At first, people wanted electronic resources rather than touching paper books, but because we quarantine all the books before we put them back out into circulation, people kept wanting to borrow them.”

"I love the feel of a book"

Lucy said while the library has now ordered more electronic resources than it had before due to demand, she gets “a lot of comments that electronic books are great when we are travelling, but I love the feel of a book”.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she loves the library and has always advocated for seeing it improved.

The refurbishment works were carried out with funding from the NSW Government, the State Library of NSW and Lismore City Council.

More than books

“Libraries are more than places go to get books and read,” Ms Saffin said. “It’s a place where people come to belong and I want to acknowledge the important work of librarians. 

“Lismore Library needs a lot more love and more dollars – and that needs to come from the NSW government. I intend to keep advocating for that valuable resource in our community.”

Lucy said while the refurbishments were great, the building used to be a school and so was not ideal for being a library.

“I would love to see a brand new purpose built library,” Lucy said.

Teaching technology

One of the things Lucy loves doing is helping people with technology and teaching them how to use devices like smart phones.

Lismore City Council Deputy Mayor Neil Marks said the refurbishments have also meant elderly and mobility impaired members in our community can now more easily make the most of their library.

“Access is not an issue now and I would like encourage everyone – young and old - to come along and check out what their new modern library offers,” he said.

“The staff provide a wonderful community service, in person and online, and they are bridging the digital divide which is think is very important.”