A NEW Beechworth library opened on Friday filled with 150 boxes worth of books and DVDs.
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The stock was moved to the Memorial Hall in Ford Street with the help of prisoners after the old library on Albert Road and Harper Avenue shut last week.
The library, which is co-located with the shire's maternal and child health service, was jointly opened by Indigo Shire mayor James Trenery and the member for Benambra Bill Tilley.
![Books galore: Library co-ordinator Lauren Kelly and Beechworth borrower Beatrix Niedra enjoy the new children's area. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE Books galore: Library co-ordinator Lauren Kelly and Beechworth borrower Beatrix Niedra enjoy the new children's area. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XJLgPnEdnKaFugZzKyL6Sw/d5a33bec-8a2a-43f9-a57a-9b2b7f9c4b57.jpg/r0_343_4672_2565_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"When council moved its main office up to Mayday Hills in March this year, the former council office space here at the Memorial Hall became available," Cr Trenery said.
"The idea of developing a central community hub involving the co-location of the library with the maternal and child health service and council's customer service gained momentum through a $257,000 grant from the State Government last year.
"Council added $88,000 of its own funds and we are in the very happy state today of seeing this project come to fruition.
"The co-location of these three services in the heart of town means that access is much easier for everyone."
Indigo Council's library team leader Wendy Kerr said $10,000 worth of new children's and adult's books and DVDs had been added to the collection.
Since the dissolution of the Upper Murray Regional Library Service two years, the Beechworth branch has grown markedly.
"For Beechworth library, active membership has climbed from 204 to 1040 and loans have risen from an average of 320 items a week to 576 items a week," Cr Trenery said.
Mrs Kerr attributes these jumps to a greater community bond and an ability, from July, for borrowers to access items from across Victoria.
The Beechworth library is the biggest in Indigo Shire and is a central point for borrowings coming in from across Victoria and then being distributed to sister branches at Rutherglen, Chiltern and Yackandandah.
Meanwhile, the council has refurbished the visitor information centre at Beechworth's former town hall.
A new layout and improved technology has resulted from $50,000 funding.