DetailsThe Library was established in 1942 by the Beecroft Auxiliary of the Children’s Library and Crafts Movement - about forty women who raised the funds to provide a librarian, books, shelving, furniture and to pay rent. Initially housed in a room at the School of Arts (now the Beecroft Community Centre) with Miss Kathleen Ebbs as the first librarian, supported by other volunteers who were rostered to attend the desk, enrol borrowers, catalogue, arrange and mend books. In 1957 a total of 12,931 borrowings were recorded – an average of 250 books per week by 800 registered borrowers; mainly primary school children from Beecroft Primary and the Arden Anglican School.
The senior reading section was started in 1958.
In 1962 the Children’s Library moved to a new location – a demountable building that was originally the Commonwealth Bank branch, which was relocated to a site adjoining the newly built Beecroft Arcade. The library thrived - annual borrowings grew to 35,000 books by 1970 and despite rising costs and the increasing challenges of fund-raising, lending remained free without any membership fees. In 1973 the number of active borrowers peaked at 2,573 and the stock of books totaled over 6,500. There was a special collection of picture books for infants, the non-fiction section provided information for many a school project and the learning of English by migrant parents was helped by the availability of books at different levels of difficulty.
In 1975 Hornsby Shire Library took over responsibility for providing the books, though volunteers continued to staff the library.
To facilitate the redevelopment of the Beecroft Arcade by Mirvac in 1976, the library was moved to a purpose built building on a corner of the car-park in Wongala Crescent.
The Beecroft Children’s Library closed in December 1998 after a decision by Hornsby Council to rationalise its library services to fewer, larger libraries in the Shire. Over 55 years of service to the local community had ended. In 2001 the land occupied by the library was sold and the building was demolished, to be replaced by a medical centre.