Rochester Library branch librarian Natalie Lonsdale, former branch librarian Jessica Hobday and Campaspe Shire Council library services manager Jenny Mustey mark the reopening. Photo: Emily Donohoe
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
Rochester Library hosted an official reopening celebration on Thursday, August 1 with an afternoon tea and open day.
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The library relocated from its temporary Gillies St site to the freshly renovated MacKay St site on Wednesday, May 15.
The space includes an updated, bigger layout; a new meeting room with kitchenette; and two private reading pods.
Guests at the Rochester Library reopening afternoon tea.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
Campaspe library services manager Jenny Mustey said she was grateful to be back at the MacKay St site and was impressed with the renovations.
“It’s lovely to be back into the building,” she said.
“We’re really happy with how the building has been remodelled to offer more space, more collections, a lovely children’s area, a seating area for study.
“We have the private booths that people can come in and use for free and an awesome meeting room that’s been used today really well.”
The community has been happy to return to the original site, enjoying the new facilities on offer and fresh feel.
“The feedback has been really positive, I think people enjoy the nice, new space,” Mrs Mustey said.
“The temporary (site) served us well, but it’s really lovely to be back here, and open it up.
“People can stay for as long as they want to and feel quite comfortable ... (they’ve) appreciated the opportunity of having a space where they can have a Zoom meeting or an interview or private study that is fairly quiet.”
Campase Shire Council youth development officer Kane Stewart, arts and culture co-ordinator Kris Tito, tourism, arts and culture manager David Hughes and library services manager Jenny Mustey.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
The library itself is about double the size it was before the floods, and much larger than the temporary Gillies St site.
This has allowed for many displays and activities to return to Rochy or begin for the first time.
“We’ve now got the whole space, which is great,” Mrs Mustey said.
“Story time is back again; holiday activities really went well.
“(Activities) were run, but we couldn’t have much space, so we tried to do as much as we could.
“Now we’ve got more opportunities... we’ve had quite a few displays in. We have room to move.”
The Rochester Historical and Pioneer Society has a display in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Rochester 70 years ago.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
The library is celebrating Family History Month, with branch librarian Natalie Lonsdale running genealogy sessions on Friday, August 23 and 30.
There is also a ‘Researching Your Family History’ seminar on Wednesday, August 14 from 10am to noon. To book, contact the library on 5481 2868.
Rochester Library is located at 43-45 Mackay St, Rochester and is open Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm (closed for lunch, noon to 1pm), and Saturdays from 9.30am to 11.30am.
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