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This library has an excellent and wide-sweeping collection including Graphic novels/Manga, ‘Zines, junior, young adult and adult non-fiction, magazines, foreign language learning material and kits, ESL materials (particularly the ever-so popular IELTS and OET kits), LOTE including: Indonesian, Chinese, Hindi and Vietnamese, fiction for children’s, young adult and adult, an extensive DVD and CD section with plans to extend into console games. All materials are for loan besides the obvious “not for loan” or “reference” materials. The library also has access to a variety of online databases, free with a library card barcode log-in, and will be initiating YourTutor in early 2008.

 

At this stage we use a dinosaur of a system, but with much planning and organizing by the Management Team we will be installing a new ILMS in early 2008. We have a website which supports the Melbourne Library Service as a whole: www.citylibrary.org.au. At this stage the youth page is currently under re-development and should provide more interactive, user-generated content and library support.

 

The extensive range of the graphic novels and Manga collection, material support for courses on offer at the CAE, the wide range of language learning kits (we have everything from Arabic to Norwegian to Spanish) as well as the ongoing maintenance of the ‘Zine collection are just a few aspects of what makes the collection at City Library quite unique.

 

The users who visit the library cannot be pigeon-holed into one demographic due to the city centre location of this branch. For example, we support what can be considered socially marginal or at risk residents, back-packers, workers from the city, students of all ages both regional and international and with specific stakeholders including the City of Melbourne and the CAE.

 

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Depending on the user’s needs, the library becomes a multi-faceted, multi-functioning ‘commons’ or Third Place where one can rest, read, access the internet and other Microsoft software on our PCs, have a ‘cuppa,’ enjoy a snack, browse through magazines and local papers (including two Chinese newspapers) with peak times between 12pm and 3pm creating quite a lively environment in which to be. They can also work on assignments, conduct seminars or group sessions, browse and buy at our quarterly book sales, visit the 1^st floor art gallery, listen to the ‘Acoustica’ program every other Friday, sit through an author talk or other library sponsored or supported event, come along to story-time with children and partake in holiday happenings, both literary and cultural, throughout the year.