General Information Penrith Library is the central
branch of the Penrith City Library service and is the largest
of the branches. Covering an area of approximately 3,000 square
metres, the Library takes up at least one third of Penrith
City Council's Civic Centre which was officially opened on
Saturday, 28th May, 1994, by His Excellency Rear Admiral Peter
Sinclair AC, Governor of New South Wales.
Collection Strengths The library provides a
wide range of fiction and nonfiction books for all age groups for
loan. They include the latest bestsellers as well as established
and more recent authors from Australia and overseas. There is also
a large range of DVDs and audio cds. The childrens section includes
picture books, graded readers, first chapter books as well as titles
from the Premiers Reading Challenge list. A growing collection of
online resources ranging from e-books to newspaper articles to art
works and music performances are available both in the library and
from home/office 24/7. The Home Tutor service is available for students
from Years 4 to 12 to obtain assistance from Australian tutors via an
online messaging service. Online services require a current library card
membership number to access. The central branch is the major repository
of local history material, housing a comprehensive Local Studies Collection
in a separate room. A Technical Library, housed in the same room, is a
collection of support material for Council staff. The library provides
a photographic database of selected historical photographs. All resources
are available via the library catalogue
http://opac.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
Special Features
Penrith Library Branches have 26 Online Public Access Catalogues
(OPACs or computer catalogues) for the public to use to
locate material in the collection. Twelve are standalone OPACs and 14 are
FreeNet PC's which can also access the catalogue.
The Penrith branch has four self serve checkout terminals (i.e.
borrowers can check their own books out on their way out
of the Library).
The Penrith branch has one self serve checkin terminal
(i.e. borrowers can check their own books in).
Seven PC's are connected to the Library's Online
subscription services/free Internet sites network (called FREENET).
Eighteen Internet terminals are also available for use
in the Library - fees and conditions apply.
Seven IBM PCs with USB ports are available for word processing.
Printing from FreeNet, Internet and Word processors is available:
B/W - A4-25c
Full Colour - A4-50c
The library has three combination colour and B&W photocopiers
with various charges:
B/W - A4-25c | A3-40c
Full Colour - A4-50c | A3-80c.
Microfiche/film reader/printers are available to view
the Library's microform collection.
Disability Access Equipment is available.
A community noticeboard gives information about both library
and local events, groups and courses.
A Toy Library is operated by volunteers every Wednesday
mornings from 10 am - 12 noon; Thursday afternoons from
3.30 pm - 4.30 pm and Saturdays from 10 am -12 noon.
Storytime for preschoolers operates every Wednesday between
10.30 am - 11.15 am. Storytime does not operate during school
holidays.
Public toilets and Parent Room facilities are available.