The Lismore Library had some VIP guests taking a tour of the renovated building on Magellan Street yesterday afternoon. VIP in terms of their importance to the Lismore Library rebuild and to libraries in general in NSW.

Representatives from the State Library and the Library Council of NSW visit 361 libraries around the state. Lismore has not been visited for approximately ten years.

The Library Council of NSW is the governing body of the State Library, and issues guidelines for NSW public libraries under the Library Act 1939 (NSW).

The State Library funded the Lismore Library flood recovery to the tune of about $800,000. So, on a Northern Rivers library tour, which finishes tomorrow at the Tweed Heads Library, the large group spent time listening to Lismore Area Librarian Michael Lewis as he explained the damage caused by the February 28, 2022 big flood and the rebuild to its current state.

Michael set up photographic displays to show the before-and-after comparison as he walked through the three levels of the historic building.

"We're very excited to be here in Lismore," Caroline Butler-Bowden NSW State Librarian told the Lismore App.

"About twice a year, we go on a regional tour where we come and visit libraries. And part of it is to see for ourselves what's happening in the library space, but it's also to talk to librarians, talk to library managers, to understand, get insights about what the future needs for libraries are.

(Lismore Area Librarian Michael Lewis on the ground level explaining why the brick walls are not painted and how the information desk was constructed as part of the library rebuild)

"The state funds $42 million of the State Library of New South Wales budget for libraries across New South Wales, and part of our act is this incredible connection and sort of system of libraries across the state. But we're particularly thrilled to be in Lismore today because we wanted to see first-hand the recovery, but far more than that, we've heard that the library is a symbol of hope, and hard work and community spirit and support.

"We can look at photographs and things, but nothing beats actually coming here, and having a tour and listening to Michael and to just understand, I think, the value of the connection between state and local government too when it comes to libraries. But much more than that, to really see for ourselves this library as the cornerstone of the community.

"One thing I've really learned by walking around here is this incredible ingenuity, too. That cleverness of thinking about how to use these spaces perhaps differently. And listening to how it's been designed, and how the community has been at the centre of that."

Caroline spoke about the role that libraries play in our lives, even in an age when we have so much information at our fingertips.

"We often see that with libraries, they are much more than buildings. They are places where everyone's welcome, and everyone feels a part of the community. Here, they're free. There's no pay barrier to participation.

"These libraries always run different groups and different sessions, whether it's for children or community activities and things like that. So it's nice to see it at different times of the day as well. And imagine what's possible here?

"The architecture, the actual bricks and mortar, are important, but it's actually the life of the library, and that is about the work of librarians and the people who work in the library to get people connected to reading, and excited about what they're seeing. Nothing beats a child coming in and being helped by a librarian to find a topic of interest.

"All the great libraries have great collections at the heart, it is still books and DVDs and audiobooks, but they also have spaces where people can sit, meet other people, dwell, where they can study.

"As we've been wandering through this small library. We can see people study, we can see people in the local history area, we've seen people reading newspapers, we've seen parents and carers reading to children. There's even a yoga class happening in one of the meeting rooms.

"They're places, yes, for reading and learning and literacy and education, no question. But they're also places for recreation and community, connection and culture and all those other great things that make up a place.

"The other things we see is that, yeah, libraries have become really central to strong community life, and I think this is an amazing example of it here, where you can see the heart and the grit and the determination to bring something back, because libraries matter, they've never mattered more."

The Lismore Library, 110 Magellan Street, is open:

• Monday to Wednesday: 9:30am am to 5pm
• Thursday: 9:30am to 7pm
• Friday 9:30am to 5pm
• Saturday: 9am to 1pm
• Sunday: 1pm to 4pm