A new underground auditorium, gallery and expanded bookshop, café and foyer are some of the enhancements the NSW Government is making to the State Library of NSW.
The NSW Government is investing $11.9 million of new funding, bringing the total to more than $24 million invested this year, enhancing visitor access and experience at the Library. The investment is part of a $120 million infrastructure program to revitalise NSW arts and cultural venues and kick-start the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Librarian John Vallance welcomed the additional funding to support upgrades to the Library’s public facilities to improve visitor experiences.
“We are absolutely delighted at this new investment from the NSW Government which will allow State Library to build a state-of-the-art 350-seat auditorium for gatherings and conferences (replacing the existing 140-seat auditorium) in an area beneath the Mitchell Library Reading Room,” Dr Vallance said.
“As part of our plans to improve access in and around the Library, we’ll be establishing a large, permanent underground gallery – set to open in mid-2022 – where we will display highlights from the Library’s vast photographic collection.”
The State Library will continue to work with expert heritage consultants and architects throughout the building program, which also includes:
- a new public link between the Library’s two buildings
- a function venue on top of the Mitchell Building – scheduled to open in mid-2021, and
- refurbishment of the Mitchell Library Reading Room.
