Lake Mac Libraries expands study hubs, textile lab and Little Libraries program

newy.com.au – Lake Mac Libraries is expanding its services in 2026 with new study hubs for senior students, a textile lab at Toronto Library and a broader Little Libraries program for pre-schools across Lake Macquarie.

Lake Macquarie City Council said the new Study Hubs would give Year 11 and 12 students access to a safe and quiet space for independent study, building on the out of hours self-access option already available at select library branches.

“Study Hubs extends our successful self-access model to support Year 11 and 12 students, offering flexibility and convenience beyond regular staffed hours,” Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said.

At Toronto Library, a new textile lab has opened for people of all skill levels, with a focus on slow making, skill sharing and creative exploration using fibres, fabrics and textile processes. The lab will host tutorials and drop-in sessions for activities including cosplay repairs and makers workshops.

“Whether you’re trying to move the needle on your sewing skills, working on a personal project or learning something new, you’ll find a welcoming place to connect and create at the textile lab,” Ms Hemsley said.

The Little Libraries program is also expanding this year, with eight pre-schools to receive curated collections of books aimed at supporting early literacy in targeted areas. The selected pre-schools are at Nords Wharf, Windale, Cardiff, Glendale, Edgeworth, Blackalls Park, Wangi Wangi and Cooranbong.

Council said the program’s second year builds on last year’s rollout, which reached more than 600 local families.

“The response from children, educators and families has been really encouraging,” Cultural Outreach and Volunteer Lead Alessandro de Franzoni said.

“Preschools have told us they’re seeing more reading at home, and families who weren’t previously connected with our services have joined the library as a direct result of the program.

“The Little Libraries collections, including culturally relevant stories that resonate with children, have sparked a fresh excitement about books and reading across our target areas.”

More information about the programs is available through Lake Mac Libraries.