Chermside Library Archives

Half a Million Visits: How Chermside Library Became Brisbane’s Second-Favourite Library

Did you know that Chermside Library is the second most visited library in Brisbane? This fact emerged from the BCC’s data for 2023/2024, revealing an impressive 484,869 visits to this library.

Read: Check Out the Chermside Library at the North Regional Business Centre

In the rankings of library popularity, Chermside was outpaced only by Brisbane Square Library, which recorded around 539,525 visits in the same period.

Located at the North Regional Business Centre, Chermside Library has quickly become a favourite among Brisbane residents since its opening in 2017. Its rapid rise to become the second most visited library in the city showcases the enduring appeal of public libraries in the digital age.

More Than Just Books

Chermside Library offers more than just a vast collection of books. The library is fully wheelchair accessible, ensuring it’s open to all members of the community. It also boasts community meeting rooms available for hire, complete with kitchenette access, making it a hub for local gatherings and events.

Adding to its unique offerings, Chermside Library houses specialised Italian and Chinese, Tagalog, and Punjabi language collections, catering to Brisbane’s diverse population and reflecting the city’s multicultural character.

Brisbane’s Love Affair with Libraries

The popularity of Chermside Library is part of a larger trend in Brisbane, where libraries continue to play a vital role in community life. Council announced that residents made more than 10 million loans from Council’s extensive library collection of books, CDs, DVDs and online resources throughout 2023/24, which equals almost 27,400 loans every single day.

Among the most borrowed books were bestsellers like “The Secret” by Lee Child, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han, and “The 169-Storey Treehouse” by Andy Griffiths, highlighting the diverse reading interests of Brisbane’s residents.

BCC has also been proactive in making library services more accessible. In the past year, six new 24/7 library lockers were installed across the city in locations such as Carina, Holland Park, New Farm, Mitchelton, The Grange, and Bracken Ridge. These lockers have already facilitated over 10,000 collections, making borrowing even more convenient for residents.

There were more than 12,000 free library events that attracted over 340,000 attendees. The popular early literacy program alone saw more than 200,000 participants, underscoring the important role libraries play in early childhood education.

Read: A Tale of 4 Children and the Hummingbird House

Digital Age and Libraries

Despite the digital revolution, Brisbane’s libraries remain relevant by adapting to modern needs. More than 1.1 million residents have logged on to Brisbane libraries’ free Wi-Fi since July 2023, demonstrating how these institutions have evolved to become digital hubs for the community. This seamless blend of traditional library services with modern technology ensures that libraries continue to meet the changing needs of Brisbane’s residents.

Published 5-September-2024

Check Out the Chermside Library at the North Regional Business Centre

The Chermside Library at the North Regional Business Centre offers its locals outstanding and accessible facilities and services in one central location.

Offering convenience for the community, the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation (CBIC) constructed the Chermside Library located at the North Regional Business Centre and Marchant ward office on the corner of Kittyhawk Drive and Hamilton Road in Chermside.

Here are some of the facilities that you can easily access at the Chermside Library:

Books
Magazines
Newspapers
eBooks
Digital resources
DVDs and CDs
Information services
Reference services
Internet
Wi-Fi
Photocopier
Scanner
Council information
Wheelchair accessible
Mobility device recharge station
Hearing loop
Quiet area
Outside terrace
Chinese collections
Italian collections
After hours chute

Apart from these facilities, there are also three community meeting rooms that have access to a kitchenette at the library. These meeting rooms can accommodate up to 200 people and can be set up for either lecture, workshop, or both. All meeting rooms are available for use and hire upon request.

Meeting Room facilities include the following:

Free Wi-Fi
Lectern
Electronic whiteboard
Data projector
Public access PC connected to data projector
Laptop connectivity to data projector (laptop not provided)
Macbook connectivity (mini display port to VGA adaptor cable)
IPad connectivity (iPad to VGA adaptor cable)
TV/DVD player
CD player
Wireless microphones
Kitchenette with chilled or boiling water on tap
Sink
Fridge and dishwasher (glasses, cups, saucers and teaspoons provided)
Tables (lockable wheels)
Chairs

One-Stop-Shop

Ever since Chermside’s first community library opened in 1952, the Council has been committed to ensuring that this facility will continue to evolve and be upgraded so that the Chermside Library will continuously be a safe, vibrant, and accessible place for people to meet, connect, relax, and learn.

NRBC Chermisde Library — *Photo credit: Google Maps*

Having the Chermside Library placed inside the North Regional Business Centre makes it a one-stop-shop precinct for all residents and businesses at Chermside and its nearby suburbs. Aside from the facilities and services offered at the library, people can also gain information and advice relating to licensing, permits, rates, local laws and compliance, account payments and animal registration, and more.

Opening Hours

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday	9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday	9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday	9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday	10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

* Please be advised that the Chermside Library and North Regional Business Centre

Click here to know the upcoming events happening at the Chermside Library.

All Stars to Showcase Asian Songs at Chermside Library

For six years now, Brisbane has been celebrating the BrisAsia Festival, a celebration of traditional and contemporary Asian arts and cultural events. The event features the finest dances, theatres, music, food, films, talks, and visual arts in celebration of the Asian cultures in Brisbane.

The festival is held over three weeks, usually from 10th of February to 4th March. As many as 80 events are being held across the city for the festival.

For the last leg of the BrisAsia Festival 2018, the South Bank All Stars will be performing at the Chermside Library on the 3rd of March from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The group will be performing Asian songs, including songs from China, Indonesia, Japan, Tibet, Korea, and Thailand.

The All Stars is a band comprised of TAFE (Technical and Further Education) migrant and refugee students. They will be presenting Asian songs accompanied by Asian traditional instruments.

TAFE is the leading provider for high quality and accessible training for thousands of students each year. It is under MECA, which specialises in giving advice for those who are interested about immigration to Australia. Their services include client representation in all legal aspects of Australia’s immigration system.

To know more about the simultaneous events happening for the last week of BrisAsia Festival 2018, please click here.

How to Celebrate Harry Potter Book Night in Chermside

The very first book of the Harry Potter series has been published twenty years ago. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Bloomsbury U.K. is inviting everyone to the Harry Potter Book Night celebration, with the theme Fantastic Beasts, on the 1st of February 2018.

While the publication had personally organised activities for classrooms around the U.K., muggles in Chermside need not miss this once in a lifetime moment.

Good news is that there are ways for children and parents to celebrate the 20th year of the beloved Harry Potter series without leaving the suburb.

The Chermside Library is participating in the worldwide celebration through its own Harry Potter Book Night on the 1st of February from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The library will follow the Fantastic Beasts theme and children ages 5-10 years are invited to come dressed as their favourite witch or wizard characters.

To help guests out with their costume, Fantastic Beasts face painting tips can be downloaded here.

Here is another costume idea:

Credit: Ribbi Star YouTube

There will also be Fantastic Beasts-themed activities and games. Even the snacks to be served at the Chermside Library would follow the Fantastic Beasts theme.

Tip: Be sure to review trivia on Fantastic Beasts as there will be various quizzes on this!

The event is free but bookings are required to reserve slots. Call 3403 7200 to reserve your place.

Parents Can Share the Magic!

Harry Potter Book Night at the Carindale Library
Credit: Brisbane City Council Libraries

Bloomsbury U.K. published the first Harry Potter Book in 1997 so the very first fans and readers of the Harry Potter series would have been the parents (and other people from their generation) themselves!

So whilst the celebration at the Chermside Library is exclusive to the younger ones, parents need not to be disheartened as they can participate as well.

All they need to do is take photos of the Harry Potter Book Night celebration. Share the best photos on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook using the official hashtag from Bloomsbury: #HarryPotterBookNight.

Be sure not to miss the celebration. Head on out to the Chermside Library!

Chermside Library Keeps Kids Busy for the School Summer Holiday

Kids can attend free activities at the Chermside Library to keep them occupied for the duration of the school summer holiday from December to January. There are DIY workshops, sessions on drama, puppets, collage, role playing, poetry, even a musical show, and their favourite Harry Potter characters to life. Chermside Library will surely make kids’ vacations extra worthwhile.

Activity	Date and Time	Description
Bazil Grumble: Fantastic Mr Fox	19th of December from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.	An interactive drama and puppetry workshop inspired by the tale of Fantastic Mr Fox by author Ronald Dahl. Children will learn the essentials of voice and movement during creative storytelling. Children will also be taught how to create their own puppets. Ideal for kids six years and older.
Christmas Magic Show with Super Steph	22nd December from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.	Children will be encouraged to participate in a role playing activity where Santa is coming to town but Super Steph’s house is a mess and there is nothing to eat. Children will then make their edible Christmas decorations of which at some point Frosty the Snowman will come alive. Ideal for kids two to five years old.
Christmas Maker Space	23rd December from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.	Children will participate Christmas-themed craft making activities. Ideal for kids six years and older.
Create Your Own Visual Poem Workshop	5th of January 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Poet June Perkins and illustrator Helene Magison of the “Magic Fish Dreaming” will teach fun, imaginative, and interesting ways on how to write and illustrate poems using watercolours techniques. Ideal for kids aged eight to 12 years old.
Live Performance by Professor Frankie Falconnette	11th of January 2018 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Australian theatre artist Nadia Sunde will have a creative reading of one of the books from the Harry Potter series. All children are encouraged to bring their copies of the novel. Ideal for children aged nine years and older.
What’s the Joke Show with Andy Jones	13th of January from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.	Bestselling children’s author and entertainer, Andy Jones will perform a hilarious musical show, made more interesting with jokes and humour. Children will also be taught on how to inject comedic elements when performing. Ideal for children from six to 12 years old.
The Story of Collage	17th of January 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.	Artists from the Brisbane Collage Club will discuss the history of collage art dating back from the 1900s. Children will also be trying their hand in making a collage. Ideal for kids 12 years and older.

Whilst these events are free, bookings are essential to reserve a spot. Please click here.