Sean Godsell Architects - a Melbourne based architecture firm - have been engaged to refurbish the existing heritage building (Emerald Hill Post Office and Annexe), complimented by new building work that will provide:

•  A renewed library space that meets the future needs for South Melbourne and the surrounding neighbourhood
  
• An Urban Studies/Heritage Centre that will be a home for relevant  Heritage and Local History collections and staff to provide an accessible history service for residents, students and researchers
  
• A marriage of the City's library and heritage services to improve the delivery of both these at the one site and increase the community's access to our wonderful resources
  
• A cross-generational space for the community to meet and connect and contribute their stories, experience and research to the City's rich cultural heritage.

We need to consider the safety of both public and staff during the major construction phase.  It is anticipated that work on the site will commence in early 2009, from which time the branch will be closed.   The public will be provided with as much advance notice as possible.

Libraries will also make available to the public prior to any closure, an interim plan that will outline where library services, programs and collections can be accessed across the municipality during the construction.

This plan will outline where:

• Patrons in the local area can return items e.g. at a drop-off point at the Town Hall
  
• Reservations can be collected
  
• Homework Club activities are temporarily located
  
• Other library Internet and PC facilities are available

As part of an integrated Centre, the library will have access to more floor space than is available in the current Emerald Hill branch; such as meeting rooms, program and training space/s, a shared front desk function, as well as expanded Internet and online service capacity. There will also be spaces for children's services and activities.

A broader mix of collection resources will be accessible through the Centre once completed, including Local History material.

The capacity and shelving to house a library collection will not be diminished. 

The centre will be staffed by both Library and Curatorial Services Staff.

• Research facilities, (including access to equipment - microfilm/fiche readers etc)
• Library collection and services - including more a better programs for the local community and school children
• Increased online services, expanded Public Internet access (including wireless)
• Educational programming and training activities
• Opportunities for members of the community to contribute their own knowledge, experiences and family history to the City's existing resources via workshops and blog sites.
• Online Database access
• Controlled (i.e. supervised) access to items from the City's Heritage Collection 
• Exhibition activities

The current Emerald Hill branch is open for 32 hours per week.

It is yet to be fully resolved, but it is anticipated the new Centre will open for between 40 -48 hours a week, (by sharing staff across library and research areas); with the mix of hours being spread across weekday business hours. There is potential to also increase access to include evenings and weekends in response to user need and levels of use.

Consultation will occur to ensure the actual hours of operation meet community needs.

The Centre will make more focussed research facilities and services available for the public, supported by staff expertise and advice.

It will offer flexible options for exhibitions and heritage display activities.

There will be increased access to the city's art and heritage collection/s, complimented by educational programming and activities.

A purpose-built library space that is designed to be light, welcoming and flexible in terms of the services and activities offered. 

A space for the community to meet and connect.

Staff from Curatorial Services and the Library visited three sites around Melbourne: Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) and the National Archives; the State Library of Victoria; and the Discovery Centre at Melbourne Museum.

The team was out to get ideas and inspiration from how these leading agencies offer historical material to the public: from the nuts and bolts of collection management and storage through to exciting and something cutting edge ideas for public programs and online services.

We finished the day filled with enthusiasm, bursting with ideas and notepads full of plans and hope to incorporate some of the features we discovered in our Urban Studies Centre (USC).

You can view the photographs taken on Photobucket.

For more information about the Urban Studies Centre contact:

Deidre Pellizzer - dpellizz@portphillip.vic.gov.au   phone - 9209 6564

Damian Tyquin - dtyquin@portphillip.vic.gov.au    phone - 9209 6576

If you prefer call ASSIST on 9209 6777 or TTy 9209 6713