Making With Ayala

Prahran Square Library is a small glass box almost hidden behind garden boxes and picnic tables. The tiny annex is part of Stonnington City Libraries which just presented its new “Libraries Plan” to Stonnington City Council.  Today a monthly ‘book chat’ meets in the corner, chairs gathered into a circle. The attendance is small, but the discussion is lively. The recent dismantling of the public library system in US brought the importance of libraries to international headlines. According to the latest Australian Public Library Statistical Report, library programming is of increasing importance to people like Elizabeth Lewicki. Elizabeth has been coming to this book chat since the start of the year, and she loves it. Elizabeth retired a few years ago when an illness forced her to stop working, but is now “bored stiff” and more than a little lonely. “I’m just sitting around the flat all day. I do go on lots of walks with my partner but I think it’s important we do some things differently or we’ll drive each other crazy,” says Elizabeth.

Stonnington Libraries has ambitious plans to improve its spaces, technologies, and partnerships. Elizabeth will be excited for any new programming; she’s already a member of three Stonnington Libraries book clubs and an enthusiastic attendee at Zumba classes. But she particularly loves ‘book chat’ because the organizing librarian, Emma, is a great discussion leader. Elizabeth says, “Emma is what makes this the best group, she’s lovely and gets people really talking. In my other group people just don’t talk.” The Libraries Plan doesn’t include an explicit commitment to increase staff for new library spaces and programs, and is proposing a plan for The Stonnington council would not permit a librarian to speak with me officially, but it is clear Elizabeth’s love of the library is driven not by the architecture or fancy facilities but by the people.

Citations

(2024). Australian public library statistical report. National and State Libraries Australasia, Deakin, Australian Capital Territory https://read.alia.org.au/australian-public-libraries-statistical-report-2022-23

City of Stonnington. (2025). Libraries Plan 2024-2026. Attachment to Stonnington City Council meeting agenda on March 31^st  2025. https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/About/About-Council/Council-meetings/Minutes-and-agendas

Garner, J. (2024). Public Library Partnerships: Using Collaborative Governance to Support Vulnerable Users. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 74(1), 4–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2024.2397940

Schuessler, J. (2025, April 8). American library association sues to stop trump cuts. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/arts/american-library-association-lawsuit-trump-cuts.html