Liverpool Council's new Yellamundie Library is officially one of the best new libraries in the world.
Each year, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) makes the award, which will be announced in Barcelona Spain in October.
Mayor Ned Mannoun said being a finalist in a prestigious world-wide award confirmed Council's vision to create a magnificent library that was not only functional but also aesthetically stunning.
"We congratulate Beijing Library on being declared the world's best and it is a tribute to the vision of Liverpool City Council that our library should gain such prominent international attention," he said.
"Yellamundie was one of 16 libraries from 10 nations to apply and then one of four finalists," he said.
"Being a finalist was a huge honour for the City of Liverpool and shows that it is truly a global city that is a world destination in its own right."
Yellamundie is part of the new Liverpool City Civic Centre, which opened in April 2024.
It was designed by the architects fjcstudio, which also designed the last Australian library to win this award (in 2014)."
fjcstudio described the library as "a transformative addition to Western Sydney, a region experiencing rapid growth and economic change.
"Designed to serve a highly diverse community experiencing socio-economic disparity, this contemporary facility serves as vital social infrastructure."
Jakob Lærkes, chairman of the IFLA jury panel, said "the Public Library of the Year award is all about paying tribute to role models, and each of the four nominated libraries stands out as libraries of the future."
"It is impressive to see the different take on how to respond to the changing needs of the user, sustainability as a more and more important factor, when we build new libraries as well as different takes on how to create welcoming reading and learning spaces for the local communities."
The other finalists for the IFLA/Baker & Taylor Public Library of the Year Award 2024 were:
- The Shenzhen Library North (China)
- Public Body Kaunas County Public Library (Lithuania)
Background
Images of Yellamundie library can be found here
Yellamundie seeks to create community connections, celebrate our diversity, and promote inclusion and equality, providing welcoming, comfortable, and accessible spaces for all members of the Liverpool community.
The library supports the community in recreation, lifelong learning, a healthy lifestyle, literacy and digital outcomes.
The Library holds extensive hard copy collections and digital material including eBooks, data bases and digital services for all ages and interests. The collection supports Liverpool's diverse community which is home to over 150 different cultures across the globe.
There are Specialised collections and services that include:
- 18 community language collections;
- Learning to read support collections;
- Dyslexic collection; and
- Disability tech access room (unique)
The library offers a Heritage Service to preserve and present the history and development of Liverpool to the community in conjunction with our museum. Records and research assistance are available to Council and the public.
A broad range of programs and events are presented with Yellamundie including:
- Children's events - Storytime, Rhyme time, Early Literacy for Pre-Schoolers, school holiday events, Supported Playgroups and Transition to School programs.
- Youth events – extensive HSC programs e.g. 'HSC Exam Preparation Workshop', health programs e.g. 'Building resilience and Better Self Care STEM and Robotics;
- Adult events – Author talks, Book Clubs, Preparing for Citizenship Courses, and a range of multi-cultural programs including Social Board games and multi-cultural story time.
- Seniors' events – Tech savvy seniors, language groups. The library also runs a range of events that cater for all the above.
