WORK TO COMMENCE ON ELYNE MITCHELL LIBRARY TRANSFORMATION
On Wednesday 15 October, Towong Shire Council will temporarily close the Elyne Mitchell Library to commence work on the upgrade and renovation of the library in Corryong.
A temporary pop-up library and customer service centre will operate out of Davis Cottage on Jardine Street whilst the library is closed for these important works.
Council was successful in securing $320,000 through the Victorian Government’s 2024–25 Living Libraries Infrastructure Program to facilitate this major upgrade – one of just eight grants made by the State Government in 2024–25 to support library upgrades across all of Victoria.
Benefits of the upgrade include:
- A new reading room and quiet study spaces.
- An early years area with flexible, child-friendly furniture.
- A small private meeting room for telehealth and confidential use.
- Improved acoustic treatment, layout and lighting.
- Integration with existing rear meeting space to support training and events.
- Upgraded technology, including RFID self-service and return equipment.
- Furniture and fittings to support collaboration, learning, and inclusion.
Towong Shire Council Mayor Cr Andrew Whitehead said the project will transform the library into a modern, flexible and welcoming community hub for Corryong and the wider Upper Murray region.
“Following extensive community consultation, Council is thrilled to be delivering a brand new space that will better reflect the aspirations of residents for a more functional and engaging public space.
“By investing in our library, we’re investing in the future of our community, in education, connection and opportunity. This renovation would not be possible without the support of the Victorian State Government – through the Department of Government Services – and on behalf of Council I would like to express our appreciation and thanks to the Department for making the renovation a reality.
“It is particularly pleasing when you consider that only seven other libraries out of more than 300 libraries across Victoria have been provided with this type of support in 2024–25.”
Council is anticipating the renovations will take approximately 2 to 3 months and will keep the local community informed of progress over the coming weeks and months.
TEMPORARY SERVICES:
Service provision will commence on Friday 17 October at Davis Cottage.
All usual Customer Service services will be available at Davis Cottage.
Library services at Davis Cottage will include:
- New items to browse and borrow (limited selection, will change over).
- Regular library service: request books, place holds, renew, borrow, and return.
- Holds will be available for pick-up.
- Open days continue as usual Monday to Friday.
- Storytime now on Tuesdays (held in Attree Park or another pop-up site – weather dependent, with updates via Facebook and library notices).
- A reduced but still very welcoming space with a kids’ activity table, comfy seating, Wi-Fi, tech help and printing services.
Library services temporarily unavailable:
- Out-of-hours returns will not be available during this time.
- From 15 October, you will not be able to put a hold on items currently in the Corryong collection.
