INTRODUCING - Meet Me at the Library

Each episode of Meet Me at the Library takes you inside a public library in Central Victoria to discover how these remarkable spaces bring us together.

You’ll hear stories of people finding hope and happiness through their library, and tales of heartache and loss.

Throughout the season, you’ll find out why these surprising, creative and democratic places – our public libraries - might just be among the most valuable spaces we’ve got.

Steve, the Keyboard Warrior

“It’s really good to see people come to a new country, and make a big success of being here.”

Steve Campbell’s own bamboozling experience of Australia’s immigration system led him to his local public library, where he now uses the free wi-fi to help reunite migrant and refugee families.

He spends up to 100 hours per application, completing complicated paperwork, and has reunited families from countries including Iran, Myanmar and Afghanistan.

“I’ve always believed we’re not here just for ourselves – we’re here for a reason. If you can find some sort of meaning in life by assisting other people when you can, then I don’t see any harm in doing that.”

Kylie and her Garden of Love

“Everything starts with seeds.”  

When tragedy struck, Kylie Swain headed to her garden, to plant and transform her pain into something beautiful.  

“Just being out in the garden and seeing something grow was really healing and therapeutic.”  

Now, through her local library, she’s helping her community connect to the power of growing, healing herself, and those around her in the process.

Dingee, the Little Town that Could

“It’s quaint, that’s probably the best word to describe it.” 

The small town of Dingee (population: 206) in Central Victoria has all the essentials, and not much more. There’s a pub, church, bush nurse, general store, and a public library.  

Historically known as a dairy farming community, severe drought and flood have meant many of the farms have packed up and moved on.  

“That’s where the library’s great. People will come in here just to get away from all their angst and worry about it.” 

Discover why the public library in Dingee, which is located in an historic railway station, is giving meaning to the lives of residents in the town.

Aunty Julie and her Super Foods

“I've always been interested in bush tucker and indigenous foods … when I retired, I had time to have a go growing some myself.” 

Aunty Julie McHale is an adopted Indigenous elder living on Dja Dja Wurrung country, who has grown more than 90 different types of native Indigenous plants on her property. 

Lemon myrtle, native plums, wattleseed and finger limes are all on offer for the tasting at Aunty Julie’s, and for sharing with others. 

“When you’re in a group and you’re sharing food – that’s when all the yarning happens.”

Find out how Aunty Julie, and the group of Indigenous women she works with are using their local library to share knowledge of indigenous plants and foods with the wider community.

Ange, on Living the Dream

What would you LOVE to do for work, if only you could? 

“A friend of mine posted on Facebook about her dream job, and I said I want to be that library lady with the microphone that gets to read the stories and sing the songs.” 

Angela Graystone is living her best life having landed her dream job as a librarian. She spends her days singing nursery rhymes, blowing bubbles and reading storybooks aloud to children. 

“Being an extrovert definitely helps in my job – it makes it easier that’s for sure.”  

Twenty years ago though, the public library is the last place Ange thought she’d end up. 

Bruno, the Cultural Champion

“Libraries are such amazing spaces. They are democratic in themselves, and forums for people to come together. It’s a place where you can share your culture.”

So says Paris-born cultural champion, Bruno Spandonide. 

He’s been sharing culture at his local library as part of a program that aims to increase connections between diverse cultures and communities. 

“You can discover the world when you go to a library.”

Bruno's ideas on the library being a force for positive change are right on, and something that many of world’s leading thinkers on cities and sustainable living agree with. 

So why are the places where we borrow our books a major tool in fighting racism and discrimination? 

Meredith, and the Library Delivery Service

What do you do if you can’t get to your local library? 

Call for help from the Home Library Service! 

Marvellous Meredith is a volunteer with the Home Library Service at her local library, selecting and delivering books and other library items to people in her community who are unable to visit the library.  

“We're supposed to stay for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. Well, I generally stay for at least half an hour with each of my ladies, because I enjoy their company.” 

Find out why the service matters so much, from those that rely on it. 

Michelle, on Life as a Book Addict

"I like the smell of books. It's addictive - I wish you could bottle up and put it in a perfume spray, because it would be the best perfume smell."  

Michelle Elliot replaced cigarettes with books five years ago and hasn't looked back. 

"I was a heavy smoker and I had no willpower to give up. One day I took the tablets (to stop smoking), and after that I started going to the library. I couldn't stop reading." 

In the final episode of Season 1 of Meet Me at the Library, we're celebrating books with a book addict, and an all-star librarian.