ON any given day at Newcastle Library you will find Novocastrians happily dipping into the bookshelves, conducting family history research in the local history library, reading the free newspapers or sewing themselves a pair of boxer shorts.
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Yes boxer shorts! It’s all part of a revamp the library has undergone, which includes the new Maker Space.
The ground floor and first level have undergone a significant remodelling.
Library manager Suzie Gately said the idea was to make it more of a contemporary “community space”. The days of whispering in the library are now gone.
“We have redesigned the layout to make it more in keeping with the original library back in 1957, when we first opened,” Ms Gately said.
The children’s zone has been moved and is now 90sqm larger.
“It has some tech in there but mostly books,” Ms Gately said.
“We have a drop down screen, so we can have movie nights in there.
“It’s really dedicated to the fun of learning, inspiring and curiosity. For kids it’s a magical thing we wanted to tap into.”
Borrowing is now an automated affair.
Books are checked in and out using radio frequency identification technology.
A new internal staircase leads to a new section known as The Space.
Here you will find computers for public use and a 3D printer and scanner. There are also partitioned collaborative spaces which can be booked for use by community groups and start-up businesses.
Level one is also home to the Maker Space. It is equipped with sewing and embroidery machines and a very long list of other making must haves.
Lucy Merchant, of Sonny and Scout, is one Newcastle creative who has been using the space to run sewing workshops.
So far she has held classes for teens in which they have learnt to make boxer shorts.
This year she will run up-cycling classes and intermediate sewing classes.
Other creatives will also be using the space for workshops in the year ahead.
To find out more about what is coming up at the Maker Space and to book in visit: newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Library/Home.