Cathey Shepherd
It can be very noisy at times

Although officially opened on 16 April 1982, Minto Community Library began serving the community and the surrounding schools on 9 June, 1981. It was established through cooperation between Campbelltown City Council and the NSW Department of Education.

The Minto renewal project has made a big impact on the local community. The school use of the library has declined as the schools become smaller. The community is grieving as the many changes in development are occurring. The library’s future is in the hands of Campbelltown Council and the Education Department, as is my future, as head librarian.

I have worked at Minto Library for the last 11 years and have seen many changes, but the most significant change has been the increase in the use of technology.

The Library services the Minto community, Sarah Redfern Public and High Schools, Passfield Park Special School and other nearby schools. We provide holiday programs, storytimes, a successful study centre [for 15 years] and library outreach programs, such as ‘Books for Minto Playgroups’. We also provide space for agencies to conduct courses, and for school and community events.

There are many school children in our premises. As people borrow books or use computers, children are having lessons, and it can be very noisy at times. There have been times when the library has been vandalised or damaged, including broken windows, graffiti, flooding from leaking roofs and a fire during rock eisteddfod practice. We’ve had water fights at our front door and we get used as a playground on hot days because we are air-conditioned.

Library users come from different backgrounds: Aboriginal, Lebanese, Asian, Pacific Islands, African and European. Many stay for a short time. Most of the characters that spring to mind are school kids, like Peter and Aaron, whose lives have been pretty tough, and who just want to talk to someone. The library has always been a safe place to visit, and the staff are friendly and approachable.

The future? The Library has a future in Minto. We can only grow as new housing is built and more people move here. I look forward to this exciting future and working with the wonderful people of Minto.