Gallery: Mapleton Library Community Centre celebrates 40 years with ambitious extension plans
The Mapleton Library Community Centre marked a significant milestone at a community fundraising event on Sunday, March 29. The gathering showcased the centre’s remarkable journey from disaster to community cornerstone, while unveiling plans for future expansion.
The centre’s story began in 1992 when a devastating fire destroyed a block of shops on Obi Obi Road, including the original council-operated library space, which had been run day-to-day by local residents with support and oversight from a council librarian, who supplied books and guidance.
When the council decided not to continue library services to Mapleton, the community stepped up. Within days, residents donated boxes of books, stationery and furniture to establish a new library in one of the shops in the now IGA building.
The resourceful community then acquired a double demountable building from the Education Department and relocated it to state government land, with support from the Mapleton RSL sub-branch. This collaborative effort resulted in the library’s opening in 1992-93.
Over three decades, the centre has evolved far beyond book lending. President Nita Lester detailed the extensive services now offered, including workshops, community meetings, a plant library, yarn library, one-to-one mental health meetings, art groups, intergenerational playgroups, and growing JP services. The name change in 2022 to Mapleton Library Community Centre reflects this broader community focus.
The centre now boasts 11,000 books and serves 400 members with 69 volunteers. However, increased demand has stretched the facility beyond capacity, prompting the extension proposal. The architectural plans, already completed with structural engineering drawings, show a new room with sliding doors and large windows designed for expanded programming.
Fundraising efforts have been impressive, with Bunnings sausage sizzles raising nearly $20,000 in recent years, one Christmas raffle alone contributing over $1000, and community donations exceeding $11,000.
Now an innovative funding strategy includes naming rights for a $10,000 donation and a “buy a brick” program starting at $20, with all contributions recorded and acknowledged. Mayor Natoli was delighted at the project’s achievable scope, personally purchasing a brick and indicating potential discretionary funding support.
With a builder already selected and construction targeted for October-November 2026, the project represents 40 years of community dedication coming full circle. The mayor praised the centre as “a strong example of creating those places where people thrive,” perfectly embodying the Sunshine Coast’s vision of being “connected, livable, and thriving”.
Dr Lester said the Mapleton Library Community Centre had truly evolved to meet its community’s growing needs, but help was needed. “A library is a business that spends money. We have to buy books and magazines. We actually don’t make money, so it’s these other things where we need to raise funds.”
• For more information email mapletonlibrary@gmail.com.
