\nA $2.8 million Digital Library inside the entry to the City\u2019s new Council Administration Centre in Newcastle West is expected to attract 50,000 people in its first year, and would be twice the size of existing libraries in Stockton, Lambton, Beresfield, Adamstown, Mayfield and the City Local History branch.
\n
![\"Digital-Library2.JPG\"](\"https:\/\/www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au\/getattachment\/Council\/News\/Latest-News\/Councillors-to-vote-Tuesday-evening-on-City%E2%80%99s-firs\/Digital-Library2.JPG.aspx\" "\\"Digital-Library2.JPG\\"")
A programable robot, podcasting studio, virtual reality equipment, interactive digital\u00a0storywall\u00a0and 3D printer\u00a0are just some of the technologies that will be available to the community within the Digital Library.\nLord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Digital Library\u00a0takes\u00a0the best elements of traditional libraries and enhances the experience with modern technology.
\n\u201cThe Digital Library experience provides cutting edge digital experiences\u00a0combined with the\u00a0most popular elements of the traditional library space. It aims to create opportunities to experience emerging technologies\u00a0and spark\u00a0innovation, while\u00a0still being a flexible place for people to learn, relax and collaborate.
\n\u201cThe 510m2 Digital Library\u00a0will be the largest ever after only the City and Wallsend libraries. It will\u00a0create unique digital experiences that will be a first for the city and region, while still meeting the core principles of connecting communities through sharing knowledge and information.
\n\u201cEarlier this year Council unanimously supported our\u00a02019\u00a0Library\u00a0Strategy, which included\u00a0digital\u00a0inclusion,\u00a0creativity and innovation as an updated vision for our\u00a0library\u00a0network.
\n\u201cOur Library Strategy involved consulting with more than\u00a01,300\u00a0people on what services they want and need in 2019 and beyond from our libraries.
\n\u201cAdditionally, the\u00a0feedback from the community since we first went public with the concept of a Digital\u00a0Library\u00a0has been\u00a0overwhelmingly positive.
\n\u201cThe $2.8 million cost of the Digital Library will largely be funded using the $2 million proceeds of the 2015 sale of the historic School of Arts building on Hunter Street. A condition of the sale was that the proceeds could only be used for future library infrastructure.
\n\u201cBuilding the Library inside the entry to our Council Administration Centre also means we will\u00a0avoid\u00a0about $3.2 million\u00a0in costs that would have been incurred had we proceeded to build\u00a0a standalone Digital Library in the\u00a0local\u00a0area,\u201d she said.
\nManager\u00a0Libraries\u00a0and\u00a0Learning Suzie Gately said\u00a0Newcastle West is the perfect location for the region\u2019s first\u00a0Digital\u00a0Library.
\n\u201cEarlier this year, Councillors were presented data showing that\u00a0the recent boom in population in Newcastle West,\u00a0Wickham and Honeysuckle\u00a0had created a critical need\u00a0in the area\u00a0for a new library service.
\n\u201cThe Digital Library will be located opposite the Newcastle Interchange,\u00a0which means\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0convenient\u00a0to train, light rail, bus, bicycle and kiss-and-ride transport modes.
\n\u201cThe Digital Library has been designed so that it can be quickly placed into onsite storage to allow the space to also act as the Council Chamber when meetings occur several times each month,\u201d she said.
\nMajor elements of the Digital Library include:
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A Robot to create a unique user experience and participate as the source of community coding workshops
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 VR – virtual reality equipment to showcase new technologies
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An Interactive digital story wall \u2013 inspired by the\u00a0Christchurch City Library,\u00a0telling stories of Newcastle\u2019s heritage, inviting customers to\u00a0 explore online exhibitions and displaying vision from key city attractions such as Blackbutt Reserve and the Anzac Memorial Walk
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A digital \u201cgreen\u201d room with podcast equipment will be bookable by the public
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Programming activities for all ages focussed on science and technology, such as coding, podcast or VR workshops
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A digital \u2018Magic Box\u2019 that replicates pages from any of the digitised items from the City\u2019s Rare Book collection
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A 3D printer alongside a multifunction print and scan device for public use
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The ability to borrow from the retail styled collections of the latest bestsellers through the self-loan kiosk and return your items on the self-return shelves
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Access to thousands of digital collection titles to complement the modest collection for adults and children
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A dedicated Pressreader table with access to 6,000 newspaper and magazine titles
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hublets \u2013 tablets available to borrow in the library \u2013 useful for those without devices
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ereaders for loan
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Targeted digital inclusion support for eGov services
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Automated print and payment system, which allows members to pay for printing, copying, fines and services both online and onsite by using credit on their library cards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"