MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 1 July 2010

YPRL Responds to User Demand with Extended Opening Hours at

Mill Park and Thomastown Libraries

Community members of the City of Whittlesea are invited to join in the festivities on
Tuesday 6 July at Mill Park Library and Friday 6 August at Thomastown Library to
celebrate the libraries’ extended opening hours.
New Tuesday opening hours mean Mill Park library will be open seven days a week from
Tuesday 6 July and new Friday opening hours mean Thomastown library will be open six
days a week from Friday 6 August.

It is community demand that has prompted Yarra Plenty Regional Library to extend
opening hours at its Mill Park branch.

“It’s my pleasure to inform residents that all the libraries services will be available on more
days,” said City of Whittlesea Mayor and YPRL board member Cr. Mary Lalios. “There
have been requests from the community for greater access, so we’re delighted to meet
that need.”

Library Chairperson Cr. Lewis Brock (Nillumbik Shire Council Deputy Mayor) agrees. “The
libraries have established themselves as community hubs and community facilities. To
meet the growing needs of the community, it makes sense for them to be more
accessible,” he said, adding, “The branches are continually evolving. We’re always
looking for ways to better serve users.”

Mill Park library will be open from 10.00am until 8.30pm on Tuesdays from Tuesday 6
July. The library is currently open 10.00am to 8.30pm Mondays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays, 10.00am to 5.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 1.00pm to 5.00pm on
Sundays.

Thomastown Library will be open from 10.00am until 5.00pm on Fridays from Friday 6
August. The library is currently open 10.00am to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday, 10.00am to
1.00pm on Saturday and is closed on Sundays.

The award-winning Mill Park Library was designed by prominent Melbourne architects
Oaten Stanistreet and opened on 23 June 2002. One of Victoria’s largest public libraries,
the $5 million library was the first to be built on the concept of a hybrid digital/print library. .
A public opening was held on Sunday 23 June 2002 when over 5,500 people visited the
library in just four hours. Today the library welcomes more than 177,000 visitors and loans
485,000 items every year

Thomastown Library opened on 26 May 1993. The 700 square metre library cost $1
million to build, funded by the City of Whittlesea, and was open 30 hours a week. Today
the library welcomes 112,000 visitors and loans 158,000 items every year, and will be
open 52 hours a week as of Friday 6 August.

Mill Park Library’s day of celebrations on Tuesday 6 July will kick off at 10.00am with an
opening and morning tea, Magician Amazing Ashley will entertain from 11.00am until
12.00noon and storyteller and didgeridoo player Ian Hunter will perform from 12.30pm
until 1.30pm. The day will also include face painting, craft and all-day games.

Thomastown Library will host a day of celebratory activities on Friday 6 August.

For more information go to www.yprl.vic.gov.au, or phone Mill Park Library on 9437 8189,
or Thomastown Library on 9464 1864.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:
o Photograph of the celebrations at Mill Park Library on Tuesday 6 July.
o Photograph of staff dressed for a party at Thomastown Library
Please contact me on 9401 0755 to organise an appropriate time for pre-event
photography.

For further information:

Suzanne Male
Marketing & Media Coordinator
P: 9401 0755
E smale@yprl.vic.gov.au