The City of Kalamunda’s latest showcase of community-centred design was unveiled earlier this week, with the opening of the Forrestfield Library within the Hawaiian’s Shopping Centre.

Mayor Margaret Thomas said co-locating the modern and innovative library with the shopping centre was a first for the City. “The City is focused on developing high quality, accessible and diverse places where people can learn, play and work and this hub ticks all of those boxes,” Cr Thomas said.

“Further to this, when we asked what was needed, our community told us they wanted a modern library with greater digital capabilities - and I am delighted to say that’s exactly what we’ve delivered.”

The Library boasts 10 public computers ready for use and a number of bookable meeting spaces, booths, quiet spaces and areas set aside for collaboration. The many self-serve options allow for after-hours use including returns, where borrowed items are released from the member’s account in real time.

And in the coming days the Library’s ‘book vending machine’ – the LibCabinet – will be up and running offering another way for members to access the library on demand. Similarly, community members can now send their print jobs from anywhere – home, on holiday or on your way to the library - and it will queue until you come in to pay and collect.

The new Library was fully funded by the City of Kalamunda. Although planning started in 2019, the move kicked off in March with the Library crew moving from Salix Way to its temporary home at the Woodlupine Family Centre before opening at the new location on Monday 3 July.

The Forrestfield Library complements the City’s three other public libraries at Kalamunda, Lesmurdie and High Wycombe, providing another location for locals and visitors to access books, DVDs, music, Wi-Fi, meeting spaces and community programs.

The Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 5pm; Thursdays 9am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 12 noon.

Regular programs available at the Library are:

• Justice of the Peace, Mondays, 11.00am – 2.00pm
• English Conversation Classes, Tuesdays, 10.00am – 11:30am
• Knit & Yarn, Tuesdays, 12noon – 2:30pm
• Rhymetime, Thursdays from 9:30am during the school term
• Storytime, Thursdays, from 11.00am (new time) during the school term
• Justice of the Peace, Thursdays, 12:30pm – 4pm
• Be Connected, Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm
• Discover & Create, Saturdays, from 10am during the school term.
  

And the July School Holiday Activities include:

• Storytime with Halle-Rose Abraham, Saturday 8 July, 9:30am – 11:00am, bookings via Trybooking.com/CIPGK
• Totem Workshop with Sharyn Egan, Tuesday 11 July, 10:30am – 2pm, Cost: $10 Bookings via Trybooking.com/1067994
• Lego Creation, Monday 10– Friday 14, July. Drop in between 9am and 1pm to help build a Lego creation.
  
  

For more information about what’s happening at the City’s Libraries call 9257 9999, email enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au or visit kalamunda.wa.gov.au/libraries

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