The City of Ballarat has welcomed today’s announcement of $500,000 from the Victorian Government’s Living Libraries Infrastructure Program towards a total refurbishment of the Ballarat Library.
The refurbishment will allow the City of Ballarat to expand its public space by about 700 square metres into the first floor, where staff are now located, providing much needed space for more books and other collections.
An expanded and upgraded children’s section will be created for children’s programs, with space for storytime events for 100 people, as well as a dedicated discovery area.
The planned works will see the front entrance of the library relocated to face on to the Civic Hall and future GovHub plaza area, allowing easier access to the library direct from the carpark.
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor says the funding allocation is great news for staff and the thousands of library visitors who use the facility.
The City of Ballarat has allocated $1.9 million in capital works budget for the project over two years.
Other features of the upgrade include a larger technology and dedicated youth space, more public meeting rooms and collaborative learning spaces and upgraded public facilities, including new baby change/feeding family rooms directly adjacent to the children’s section.
The refurbishment will also incorporate an outside relaxation area, perfect for reading.
The works are expected to take at least 12 months to complete.
Cr Taylor says the City of Ballarat will endeavour to limit disruption to library services as much as possible during the works by using a staged approach to the upgrade.
“I look forward to updating the Ballarat community on the final design when an architect has been engaged,” he says.
