Youth demand prompts library growth

CASEY Council is again seeking funding to have the Hampton Park Library extended.
A number of councillors have already complained that the library was built too small and does not have sufficient space to match its resources.
A council report showed extensions, including furnishing and equipment, would cost $800,000 and the council hoped the State Government would consider providing funding in its Living Libraries Program.
Councillor Wayne Smith, a long advocator of extending the library, said it was clear the library was too small the day it opened.
“The library has been embraced by the community so well, particularly the young community,” he said.
“It has the biggest demand for the internet out of all of our libraries.”
He said the library was about to have more terminals put in but the lack of space was becoming a big problem.
Cr Brian Hetherton raised the possibility of setting up a joint use facility with a local school but other councillors highlighted that this had not worked in the past.
A report will now come back to the council when and if the possibility of applying for a grant became available.