Our libraries celebrate 70 years

Published on 07 October 2020

Mayor Frank Carbone smiling and posing with children's story book at the Wetherill Park Library

Our popular Fairfield City Open Libraries service is celebrating its 70th anniversary this week and we want you to come and celebrate with us.

I am proud of our libraries. They are community hubs where we come together to learn, explore, create and have fun. They have something for everyone – books for young and old, study spaces and computers for students, learning materials and courses, and so much more. We have worked hard to make sure they continually innovate to meet the needs and aspirations of each generation.

On 7 October 1950, the first branch opened at Cabramatta in the Municipal Building with a collection of 2912 books.Today our libraries have 90,000 print books.

After one month there were just over 850 library members. We now have more than 130,000 members.

Customers can now borrow videos, magazines and tablets, use the libraries’ recording studio, virtual reality equipment, attend one of hundreds of different workshops every year, or use the libraries’ Workary small business space.

They can also access the libraries’ massive online collection of ebooks, e-magazines and e-newspapers or stream from thousands of movies, documentaries and tutorials. All of this is free.

Next year we will open a new Fairfield branch in Harris Street, double the size of the existing branch in Kenyon Street, which will be converted to a state-of-the-art business hub.

Whitlam Library at Cabramatta is hosting an exhibition until the end of the year looking back at the last 70 years of our libraries. I encourage local families to come and enjoy this seven-decade photographic journey.

You can also share a fond memory or photo of your library days. Mark your place in history by sharing your memories online at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/library or at your nearest library branch.

If you’re not already a member of our libraries, now is the perfect time to join, and it is FREE. I am a regular visitor to our wonderful libraries and I hope to see you there soon.