JESSE NEILL

A COMMUNITY library has been introduced at Angle Vale Kindy Care, in honour of a local legend.

The library’s founder and Angle Vale local Kathrine Biddell dedicated the space to her mother, Joann – a career librarian who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2015 at the age of 50.

Ms Biddell said the community library is “exactly what mum would have wanted” and is designed so the community has a service for people to swap books.

“The idea is for people to put a book in if they take a book out to encourage a constant sustainability of our stocks,” she said.

“We’ve put it out the front of the centre so people can access it whenever they’d like.

“We’ve got a combination of books for adults and for children, so there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes.”

Ms Biddell said her mother was an avid reader and passionate about encouraging young people to read.

“My mum loved getting children to read and as a childcare worker myself, I know how important early literacy is for kids,” she said.

“We’ve had really good feedback so far and been supported wholeheartedly by the community.

“I should also thank Paul Lyons-Ormonde – one of the fathers of the children we look after – who was happy to help construct and put up the library for me.

“When I told him my idea, he loved it and he was quite respectful throughout the whole process, which only took him about a week.”

The childcare centre and community library are located on 143 Angle Vale Road and the centre is open from 6.30am-6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Donations of books can be dropped off to the centre during its operating hours, however anyone is welcome to take a book and replace it at any time of day or night.

“We’re really proud to be the first to do a community library in the area and hope this library continues (mum’s) legacy and instils the joy of reading in our community.”