The count down is on to Wollongong City Council’s anticipated opening of the new Warrawong Library on King Street, Warrawong.

Librarians are busy stacking shelves, laying out magazines, arranging the furniture and testing new computers in preparation for 9am on Monday, 29 November, when the doors to the new premises will officially open.

Council will mark the occasion with a celebration, complete with storytelling, a cleansing ceremony and a ribbon cutting.

Manager of Community and Cultural Library Services, Jenny Thompson, said it’s been a challenging few months since the announcement from Westfield Warrawong that they would not renew the library’s 20 year lease.

“The community has been extremely supportive of our search to find a new location for the library, and were understanding while Council spent a number of months custom fitting a new premises on the first floor of 67-71 King Street, Warrawong,” Ms Thompson said.

“Now the wait is over and we think locals will be just as excited as we are to have access to a new modern library space, complete with technology, books, reading spaces and areas for children’s activities.”

“The new library is just a short walk across the road from the old location, and it is right next to Darcy Wentworth Park, which is convenient for parents supervising their children playing sport after school and on weekend,” Jenny Thompson said.

“The Library will have lots of fun activities and workshops over the entire summer period for the community to enjoy, including free magic shows, book characters dress ups, craft, creative writing and photography workshops.”

“To encourage users back to the library, we’re also offering locals a two week amnesty on any library fines if they have late books or a fine is stopping them from returning,” Ms Thompson added.

For more information about the new Warrawong Library and the opening celebrations visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/Library/  or phone 4274 4626.