Residents of the Borough of Queenscliffe will soon be able to borrow and return library items at any time, day or night. An 18-locker system is being installed at Queenscliff Library, funded with $28,660 from the Victorian Government. Holders of a free Geelong Regional Libraries membership can reserve items for delivery to a locker. Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant announced the funding at the library, alongside local council and library leaders. Council will share further updates as the project progresses.
Moranbah Library was temporarily closed on the morning of Monday 26 October 2026 because of recent weather conditions. An update published at 8.30am said the library had reopened and normal operating hours had resumed. Council apologised for the inconvenience and thanked residents for their patience. Anyone seeking further information was directed to the council's Customer Service Centre, which operates around the clock.
Injune's Customer Service Centre and Library will close for one hour on Monday 26 October, from 1.00pm until 2.00pm. The council says the closure is needed for an internal event. Normal services are scheduled to resume at 2.00pm that day. Residents who need further details are being directed to contact the council, and the council has thanked the community for its patience.
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Bestselling author Fiona McIntosh will speak at Shellharbour City Library on Saturday, 24 October, about her historical novel The Art Lovers. McIntosh says she was granted 45 minutes alone with a Caravaggio painting in a Malta cathedral, an experience that shaped the book. The novel is set in wartime Malta and follows a schoolgirl who falls for an injured Spitfire pilot and art historian. The event runs from 6 to 8 pm and costs $10 per person, with a World War II collection display.
A new set of neuro-affirming books has arrived at Colac district libraries, intended to give local families, young people and carers trusted resources. The collection was created and shared to support them.
Staff at Mornington Peninsula Shire libraries have raised concerns about a proposed restructure due to take effect in early January 2027. Shire director of communities Cheryl Casey said no final decisions have been made and consultation with employees is underway. Current library positions are set to be made redundant, with permanent staff redeployed. Staff say the changes will leave too few people on the floor and disperse teams across locations. Somerville Library could transition to a community hub model with a mobile library, according to documents seen by The News.
The new Heidelberg West Library opens to the public on Tuesday 20 October, inside Olympic Leisure Centre. The library was designed with community input and includes a children's area, collections for all ages, public computers, study spaces and community programs. A special Storytime session will run at 11am on opening day. The $2 million leisure centre redevelopment was partly funded by council, with $200,000 from the Victorian Government. Residents can join for free to borrow books and access digital resources.
Library branches have introduced a new central phone number for all enquiries. Callers will be connected to the first available team member who can assist them, as most questions can be answered at any branch. Existing branch numbers will keep redirecting for a short period while library materials and communications are updated. Customers are encouraged to start using the new central number.
Young people aged 14 to 17 can develop their photography skills in the Click, Capture, Create program at Ferntree Gully Library. The free program runs on Thursdays from 12 November to 3 December, from 4pm to 6pm. Participants learn simple photography techniques and take part in photo challenges. They also learn basic photo touch-up editing and create a final collage display. No experience is needed, but participants should bring their own phone or camera. Places are very limited and registration is essential.
Melbourne councillors have backed final designs that will greatly expand community space at the Boyd Community Hub in Southbank. The Future Melbourne Committee approved the concept on October 6. The former library space will become a 190-square-metre community hall for up to 100 people, with a community kitchen. Community space will grow to 452 square metres, an increase of 248 per cent, once the new Southbank Library opens in late 2026. The $4.6 million refurbishment is due to begin in mid-2027.
Work starts next week on improvements to Dandenong Library in Melbourne's south-east. The upgrade adds a parents' room, a private multi-faith room for prayer and reflection, and extra study areas. Greater Dandenong Mayor Sophie Tan said the changes reflect the different ways people use the library. The work is due to finish by the end of December, and the library will stay open during construction, with some noise and short one-day closures possible. The $637,100 project is jointly funded by the council and the Victorian Government.
Chilwell Library in Geelong has reopened after a significant redevelopment, funded by a $2.35 million council contribution and a $150,000 Victorian government grant. The project, part of a $100 million council investment in libraries over five years, has transformed the facility into a modern, accessible community hub. The redevelopment includes expanded gathering spaces, improved accessibility, and dedicated children's areas, ensuring the library remains a vibrant local institution. Community advocacy played a crucial role in securing the library's future, with residents rallying to prevent its closure a decade ago.
The first public nature library in the US has opened in Colorado's Adams County. It offers books and 850 nature-focused 'try it' kits, including birdwatching equipment, gardening tools, and hiking gear. The library aims to help people engage with nature and learn about climate change. It features a 6-hectare site with hiking trails, gardens, and free workshops. Visitors have praised the library for making nature more accessible and fostering a love for the environment.
The new Hervey Bay Library has attracted over 31,000 visitors in its first month, with 7,300 attending programs and activities. Mayor George Seymour highlighted the library's expanded facilities and community engagement. The Makerspace, featuring creative technology, has been particularly popular, with nearly 3,000 tours and 171 equipment skills checks completed. The library hosted a successful event with authors Craig Smith and Deano Yipadee, drawing 905 attendees. The upcoming Lines in the Sand Festival in November will bring authors and creative activities to the library.
