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Member: Boomanulla

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About meThe Goyder Street Library is a modest community library staffed entirely by volunteers and supported entirely by donations

About my libraryThe Story of the Goyder Street Library

On December 1st, 2006, the ACT ALP Government closed the Griffith Library, located in the ACT suburb of Griffith in what was once the Griffith Primary School. Since self government in 1989 there had been other attempts to close first the Kingston Library (which was relocated to Griffith) and later the Griffith Library by various ACT Government groupings, including a close run attempt in 2000 by the then ACT Liberal Government. This time there was no consultation, just a decision to close. Residents were outraged and there were many letters to the editor, calls to talk back radio and interviews with affected borrowers on TV, and public rallies. People continued to feel aggrieved, especially when it became apparent that the social impact of the closure had not been measured.

A small group of people continued to meet together and explore the possibility of maintaining a library presence in the inner south. Finally they committed to seriously opening some sort of a modest library/drop in centre with the clear aim of proving to the ACT Government the need to open a library in the inner south or, include a purpose built library in any plans to redevelop the Griffith site.

After much searching, the Aboriginal Sports and Recreational Centre Boomanulla Oval on Goyder Street in Narrabundah offered its boxing ring. The Southside Community Library Taskforce accepted the offer and went public with the news on Thursday 19th April 2007. We announced that we would open the Goyder Street Library in 5 weeks. Canberrans heard our call and books, fittings and offers of help flooded in. . Local residents just turned up and did things, repairs and maintenance.The Goyder Street Library was opened by Jack Waterford AM, who is now our patron, on Thursday 24th May 2007.

Everything in the Library is donated; the books, the fittings (over 35 bays of stand-alone shelving and various book cases), the furniture and everything else There are more than 30 volunteers including the original taskforce.

Homepagehttp://www.southsidelibrary.com

Real nameGoyder street Library

LocationNarrabundah, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Emailenquiriessouthsidelibrary.com

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Account typepublic, non-profit

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Member sinceMay 2, 2007