The council has commenced a “Have Your Say” consultation on an upgrade to the furniture at the popular but dilapidated St Kilda Library.
This is a significant departure from the $11M St Kilda Library redevelopment included in the Council Plan 2021, which was shelved quietly in 2023. The redevelopment has been replaced by a furniture upgrade described obliquely as “Uplifting St Kilda Library.”
Better use of space, more comfort
Mayor Louise Crawford has defended the shift in the project’s scope. “While this is not the planned redevelopment of St Kilda Library, the enhancement of the spaces will offer much to our community.
“For example, the children’s area and the teenage area will be significantly improved as part of this project. There will also be increased lounge spaces for our community to gather and connect, and improved study and work facilities.”
She stated that the new project would invest $240K into the library and make better use of the available space.
“The project will deliver a revised floor plan that will open up the library and relocate the children’s area into a lighter and brighter space. It will also provide more comfortable seating and more study and work options with power for charging devices.”
Mayor Crawford is keen to reassure those who enjoy events at the library, such as book launches and author talks.
“The new children’s area will have a dual purpose and include mobile shelving that can be easily reconfigured for children’s activities. In the evening, the shelves can be moved out of the children’s space to allow for up to 100 guests at literary events while still allowing families to browse these collections into the evening.”
No new spaces for creatives
However, those hoping for spaces that support creatives, such as a podcast studio or green screen room, will be disappointed. There are no plans for that in St Kilda (though it might happen elsewhere).
The quick and cheerful consultation launched earlier this week will close on Sunday 23 March. There’s an online survey and a number of pop-up consultation sessions.
From our archives … May 2023
