Cool to be six of the best

THE Cooroy Library has earned a place on a list of the world’s coolest libraries.
Property and urban development industry news website TheUrbanDeveloper.com has named Cooroy among six libraries that are leading a digital shift.
The article, Six of the World’s Coolest Modern Libraries, ranks the local library with Austria’s Vienna University of Economics Library, Singapore’s Bishan Public Library, Poland’s Warsaw University Library, Scotland’s University of Aberdeen New Library and Germany’s Stuttgart City Library.
Noosa Mayor-elect Tony Wellington said he welcomed the library’s recognition as one of the world’s best.
“It shows that here in Noosa we can deliver world-class building design as well as cutting edge library services,” Cr Wellington said.
“It’s certainly an honour to be chosen among the best library facilities on the planet.
“The sort of recognition the Cooroy Library has achieved shows our commitment to innovation and community wellbeing. It is also a drawcard for the wonderful hinterland town of Cooroy.”
Built in 2009, the Brewster Hjorth Architects-designed library includes a grassed roof that serves as an outdoor amphitheatre, a technology centre, digital training rooms, community rooms, community lounge, reading areas and a cafe, which provides workplace training opportunities for local young people.
“The building is cut into the ground, with the grass covered rooftop significantly reducing energy consumption by providing natural insulation,” Cr Wellington said.
Last year, Noosa Library Service became the first public library in Australia to recruit a NAO humanoid robot, named ‘Dewey’ after the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Dewey is part of an initiative to offer fun, practical robotics and computer programming training.
Cr Wellington encouraged residents to check out their local library to see the programs and services on offer.
“It’s my dream that Noosa also one day hosts a world-class public gallery,” he said.
“The possibility of having a stand-alone art gallery in an accessible and visible place is something I will be investigating during my term in office.”