Manly Library is now officially a 24-hour destination, throwing open its doors around the clock to those who’ve done the right paperwork for after-hours access.
Ugg boots are not mandatory, but wholly accepted.
Unstaffed library hours were trialed between June and November last year, but on Tuesday the program became official at an intimate ceremony for dignitaries and stakeholders.
Reports of a definite ‘look’ have emerged concerning those who make use of the service. And while Ugg boots and tracksuit pants are de rigueur, they’re not mandatory, should you become an eligible member of the after-hours crew.
It’s the second library on the peninsula to go all-hours. Forestville Library has been 24/7 since 2022 and paved the way for the Manly trial. Northern Beaches Council says 1500 registered for the trial period, with 20,000 visits recorded during that time. “Mostly we have students,” Council’s Libraries manager Maeva Masterson says. “We find they like to ‘study alone together’.”
The Forestville experience saw a phenomenal number of people using the relatively small facility in the late evenings. “Manly was always going to be bigger, more intricate, because of a more dense urban environment,” Maeva says.
“We have cemented our position and are recognised as leaders in this field. In 10-to-15 years I would expect this (model) to be the standard.”
“In 10-to-15 years I would expect this (model) to be the standard.”
The service has been made possible through public libraries funding provided by the State Library of NSW, particularly regarding access and security. State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon says communities are changing and that libraries with proper infrastructure need to respond to this. “What we are seeing is that libraries are thriving and are finding new ways to provide access to the community,” she says.
Dr Butler-Bowdon says the trials on the northern beaches were very keenly observed. “We will do anything we can in this state to help young people feel connected and avoid distractions. They tell us they like coming to libraries to study. But, let’s face it, it’s also for social reasons.”
Mayor Sue Heins says she is proud of the service becoming a permanent fixture. She says safety and security has always been paramount and that numerous duress buttons now exist in the library. She also points to book shelves on wheels, able to be moved to avoid blind spots.
Attending the opening, Manly MP James Griffin is ambiguous as to whether he might be up for a 3am page-turning session at his local. “Never say never,” he says. “If people want to find me, it could be here.”
It’s open to Northern Beaches Library members who are over-16 and have completed an on-site induction.
More info here. https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/library/visit/247-libraries
