Parramatta’s first free library was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor, Alderman D. J Mahoney on Saturday 29 November 1958 in front of a crowd of 100 people at Jubilee Hall No.2 at Parramatta Town Hall.
On 29 November 2018, Parramatta Library celebrated its 60th anniversary. Celebrations kicked off by speech and official cutting of the cake by the Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor Councillor Andrew Wilson. It is proud 60 years of inspiring the community through free access to knowledge and evolving with the community’s needs and expectations.
In these 60 years Parramatta Library has provided free access to books, online resources and over 2000 events including digital literacy, children’s events, HSC talks, author talks, talks in other languages, English conversation classes, job classes and many more. The library’s goal is to enable to the community to connect, participate and learn.
Images of the celebrations (Source: Parramatta Library)
Opening speech by the Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor Councillor Andrew Wilson (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Community Services Group Manager Sue Coleman (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Parramatta Libraries Manager Michele Burton (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Cake cutting by the Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor Councillor Andrew Wilson (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Let the celebrations began…patrons enjoying cake (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Let the celebrations began…patrons enjoying cake (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Parramatta Library Staff – dressed to impress (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
The Lord Mayor Councillor Andrew Wilson and Librarian Hiba Kanj (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
The Lord Mayor Councillor Andrew Wilson, Group Manager Sue Coleman, and Parramatta Libraries Manager Michele Burton (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Parramatta Library staff. From left to right – Johany Ali, Preetha Joseph, Hiba Kanj and Bruce Morgan (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Some memorabilia from early days (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Some memorabilia from early days (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
60th Anniversary Display screen (Source: City of Parramatta Library)
Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021