Librarians, competitive? - you bet! 
No sooner had I pressed the ’send’ button and my mail box was flooded with responses from colleagues across the country boasting of the vastness or smallness of their library.
Cheryl Dodson, Marketing and Planning Librarian at Liverpool City Library submitted our first entry in the ‘big’ category (and Cheryl is certainly living up to her job title). Liverpool Central Library is an impressive 5,600 sq metres; you can get some idea of the great spaces looking at these photos. As many of you will be aware Liverpool City Council suffered extensive fire damage to its administration building a few weeks ago but thankfully all is well at the Library.
The sculpture at the entrance to Liverpool Central Library
Space as far as the eye can see!
From Liverpool (population 176,903) lets move to Balingup (population 4741) an historic village in SW Western Australia, 3 hours drive from Perth. Kim Fee from Bunbury City and Regional Library describes it as ‘very cute’ and Balingup Librarian, Narelle Leatherbarrow has confirmed it is 8mx8m. Narelle hasn’t been able to send us a photo but having done a little bit of surfing the area is definitely on my agenda next time I’m in WA!
Alexander Mills, Customer Services Librarian at Muswellbrook writes ‘ I think Cassilis Branch of Upper Hunter Regional Library may be in the running for the smallest library, it’s the smallest I’ve ever visited’. At 3.83mx3.90m it’s certainly in the running! (are you now loving your space at Balingup Narelle!). Cassilis has a population of about 100 people and is located just off the Golden Highway on the Munmurra River, 43km north-west of Merriwa, 86km north-east of Mudgee and 358kn north-west of Sydney. The main streets have been declared an urban conservation area.
Cassilis Library Floorplan
Shelving with circulation desk in the foreground
Whatever the size it’s the service that counts! Thanks Cheryl, Kim, Narelle, Alex and George (my agent in WA). Keep your examples coming on in, I’m sure we can manage state awards as well (I’m in one of those ‘every kiddie gets a prize’ moods).
Off to calculate the size of my smallest branch at Manildra.
Cheers
Jan
Jan Richards, Chair, PLAC