The Ararat Library will shortly undergo an interior furnishings upgrade, with works scheduled to commence early next month.
The upgrade is in line with the changing needs of our community, following feedback received from the community mid-last year on the use of the library space. The primary focus will be to modernise the library's interior furniture and create an updated layout which best supports a flexible multi-use facility.
The project will incorporate the following upgrades:
- New flexible 'mobile' shelving for adult fiction and non-fiction areas, in line with the mobile shelving in the children's area. This will enable these shelves to be moved for flexible use of the space for programs, etc.
- New furniture and 'soft' reading/quiet spaces for flexible use (studying on a laptop, reading, etc.).
- Replacement carpet/flooring to best cater for modern facility needs.
- Two additional public use computers to meet demand for use of technology.
- Improved/modernised signage on the exterior of the library building.
This $200,000 upgrade project is supported by Council's Capital Works Program.
The Ararat Library will temporarily close from 1 February 2025 whilst the upgrade works take place. Works are expected to take just over a month to complete with the Ararat Library expected to reopen its doors to the public on Monday 3 March 2025.
While the interior upgrade takes place at the Ararat Library, a temporary pop-up Library will open at Ararat's Alexandra Oval Community Centre to provide continued services to the community. The pop-up library will include a selection from the library's existing collection, as well as a dedicated children's area, free Wi-Fi and public computer access, printing, ample seating with magazines and papers, and study spaces.
Access to the 24/7 returns chute will be temporarily unavailable during this time. Books can be returned to the pop-up library during opening hours only. Opening hours at the Ararat pop-up Library will remain the same as the usual library opening hours. The library team will also continue to run regular library activities.
