Castle Hill Library

The Castle Hill Library and Community Centre were designed to be Australia’s most advanced Library and Community facility. Council invested in a long-term research program of many international facilities before embarking on the project. The library has set new standards in the display of its collection and its integration of reader areas and digital access areas. The library includes a large ‘bookstore style’ lending library, a café, a fully equipped research oriented reference library and digital research facility as well as a large children’s and youth library. The internal café, which is leased to an external operator is very successful. It is located adjacent to an external secure courtyard. The library is designed to allow food and drink to be consumed inside and for books to be taken outside. The library collection has been arranged by “Genre” rather than by the Dewey System, lounge areas are located around the library in conjunction with the various “lifestyle” collections. Environmental graphics have been used extensively to create an exciting internal atmosphere, the internal fitout is designed to evoke the feeling of an upscale book store.