Million Dollar Library to Officially Open in Batlow
Published on 10 February 2021
Snowy Valleys Council Mayor James Hayes will join the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP, Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain MP and guests on Friday 12 February at 2pm to officially open the new Batlow Library with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and cake cutting.
Constructed with a million-dollar State Government Grant, the new library is a purpose-built community building with linkages to the Batlow Literary Institute which sits next door.
“Libraries are at the heart of rural communities like Batlow and this new Library enables us to provide extended learning programs, improved public and meeting spaces and better access to technology for our community, for generations to come,” said Cr Hayes.
“This is a significant investment in library services for our community and I am proud of Council’s work to bring this vision to life for the people of Batlow,” Cr Hayes said.
The new library provides a relaxing community space, comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and computer access, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and dual access bathrooms.
The building quietly opened to locals in late September 2020 and people have enthusiastically embraced the new space including local school students who can be found there most afternoons.
Batlow’s Library provides additional community services over and above lending of books. The Library is also the local Medicare Easy Claim Centre, Centrelink Access Point and Community Noticeboard. Locals can also pay their Council Rates and make bookings for local venues at the Library’s counter.
Snowy Valleys Council operates five Libraries across the region as part of the Riverina Regional Library network and in addition to the extensive range of reading material, eResources and dvds, the libraries offer free computer and wi-fi access, author talks, reading clubs, school holiday programs, storytime sessions for children, community programs, and family and local history information.
The Batlow Library is open Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm and membership is free.
Snowy Valleys Council received $1M in grant funding through the NSW Government Stronger Country Communities program to design and construct a new library/meeting facility in Batlow.
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More information:
For more than 50 years the Batlow Library has been located in the Batlow Literary Institute Building
It now has a built-for-purpose building offering a designated space to better meet the demands of a contemporary Library service for community to enjoy into the future.
- Batlow Library Services were originally provided by the Literary Institute and run out of the Batlow Literary Institute Building which was built in 1935.
- In 1957 Council agreed to make a yearly subsidy of 5 shillings per Batlow Library member to the Literary Institute (25 pounds)
- The Batlow Library first became a public Library provided by Council in 1962
- Council acquired the Batlow Literary Institute Building in 1971
For information about the Batlow Library Project visit https://yourvoice.svc.nsw.gov.au/new-batlow-library