Libraries SA recently launched state-wide festival ‘Firstival,’ which will kick off on Saturday, July 1.
The Firstival will be hosted by individual public libraries across South Australia and participating Limestone Coast libraries include the Mount Gambier Library, Naracoorte Library and Lucindale Memorial Hall.
The month-long program will run until Monday, July 31 and will include an array of unique, free, and low-cost activities for families with something for people of all ages.
City Council Library and Community Development manager Georgina Davison was looking forward to hosting the Firstival at the Mount Gambier Library.
“The whole focus of the Firstival is about trying something new while showcasing all the fantastic things that libraries do, so for the community to attend something they would not usually attend,” Ms Davison said.
“It is about launching and making visible our new brand while sharing with the community exactly what we do.
“People can expect new things, we are putting on lots of activities that we would normally put on and trying to expand that and be creative about what new events we might want to run.
“We are looking forward to having hopefully lots of our current customers and lots of new ones as well trying different things.
“Some people still think libraries are just about books and they are not, they are so much more than that; that is obviously a vital part of our role, but they are so much more than just books.
“It is the only place really that you can go and sit and do whatever you like for free.”
Public Libraries Association of SA president Damian Garcia said Firstival was an initiative developed to rekindle South Australians’ curiosity, nurture a lifelong love of learning, and remind everyone of the essential role public libraries play in society.
“Libraries SA is proud to deliver a unique program of events across the month of July, which encourages all South Australians to seek new experiences and connect with their local library in ways they never have before,” Mr Garcia said.
“Learning keeps the heart young, the mind rich and the soul satisfied.
“And public libraries are our shared space to learn.
“If you have not been in one in a while, think of Firstival as an open invitation to walk through the doors and see what’s waiting inside.”
Ms Davison said the Mount Gambier Library worked very closely with all the public libraries in South Australia.
“We are all a really close-knit community of libraries in the state,” she said.
“We wanted to do something new, something original, get our name out there, launch the branding and our value proposition, so we are just trying to drive it home how important we actually are to people.”
Visit www.firstival.com.au for further information on events at each library and to book.
