05/11/2025
URGENT: New team needed to take Mentone Public Library into its 2nd Century
Mentone Public Library has cash in the bank, a Partnership with Kingston City, a unique catalogue of books, and a growing track record as a Writers Centre presenting top-line authors and encouraging local creatives.
Celebrating 100 years of service to the community, what it needs now is a fresh team of people keen to carry the energy and programs into its second century.
“Mentone Public Library has achieved many things in its one hundred years, the latest being its successful re-positioning as a Writers Centre in the post-COVID era,” said President Graeme Johnstone.
“But now, with several of our key-position holders including myself standing down, it is time for a changing of the guard to take it into a new era.”
Until the 1950s, Mentone Public Library was the only book-lending service in the community and at its peak in 1957, book loans totalled an astonishing 79,442 for the 12 months.
But the rapid spread of television, changes in reading habits, the arrival of municipal libraries, and several re-locations leading to a lack of public awareness set it on a slow downward spiral.
The launch of ‘An Author For All Seasons’ in 2011, presenting both local and nationally recognized authors on a monthly basis, opened up a new pathway, which has since been enhanced by sessions such as ‘Open Mic’ and ‘The Writer Meets The Readers’, as well as the concept of encouraging people to simply come in, sit down, and create.
“With only a handful of loans each year, we are now pretty much a library in name only, but our 3500-book catalogue and quirky ambience provides the perfect atmosphere for producing and presenting the written word,” said Mr Johnstone.
“That is our future, and now that it just so happens that the current administrative group is stepping down for a variety of personal, employment and other reasons, we are looking for like-minded people coming on board who would enjoy exploring different directions and taking the operation up to a new level.
“They may, for example, bring in other creative concepts such as art, design, photography and so on. Perhaps even a name change to underline a broader creative approach, something like that. The sky is the limit.
“Our one hundredth annual general meeting is coming up and we are looking forward to people from both within and outside the library to carry on with the enthusiasm and vision that its founding volunteers displayed back in 1925.”
If this opportunity appeals, please write to: [email protected] for more details.
The 100th AGM is at the Library, 36 Florence Street, Mentone, on Saturday November 15 at 11.00 am.
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