bookshelves

My daughter would be right at home with all those books !! She loves to learn !! Beautiful image !! Thank you for sharing !! Have a superb weekend !!

Now that's a fine collection of books – I'm sure they've got a ladder to reach the top :)

This is so beautiful

Townsville was the first city in the state of Queensland to open a free public library service in 1938. In 1986, the Shire of Thuringowa became a separate city and the library service divided; the Aitkenvale and City Library became the Townsville Library Service, and Thuringowa Library became a separate library service. Each had their own mobile library, with Thuringowa operating in the northern suburbs and Townsville in the southern suburbs. In 2008, the cities of Townsville and Thuringowa were amalgamated. The new library service became known as CityLibraries Townsville. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CityLibraries_Townsville

In July 1938, Townsville Mayor, JS. Gill, the man who went on to become one of the city’s longest-serving public officials, ushered in a new era in the history of Queensland by placing the first free municipal library in the State under the control of a Local Government Authority. The council’s decision to take over the School of Arts in 1938 was an unprecedented move, never having occurred before in the history of Queensland. It was, in many ways, a testament to the leadership of the city’s Mayor, Alderman JS. Gill. At a small ceremony to take possession of the title deeds to the School of Arts, Alderman Gill remarked hopefully: “On behalf of the Townsville City Council and the citizens of Townsville, I now enter into possession of the School of Arts, and I hope that it will always be an institution of help and education to the younger people of this city.” Although it was considered to be a “free” library, borrowers were required to pay a security deposit of five shillings per book, to encourage their return. This doesn’t seem to have deterred borrowers though, and membership of the library more than doubled in the first year. In late 1964, security deposits were waived, which finally made it a truly free service. Source: northqueenslandhistory.blogspot.com/2015/11/mr-townsville...

I can still those musty books !

This is a great picture, thank your for uploading it! I love how you can get a sense of the distinct personality of each library patron, especially the first gentleman who can't wait to start reading. I used it on my blog here: hiringlibrarians.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/name-the-circul...

It looks a bit like those men are in prison garb.