In October 2023 the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Ti Tree library was reopened to the public after being renovated. A celebration was held, with kangaroo tails, a sausage sizzle and activities by Early Childhood Australia.
The renovations have improved the library, meaning it can be accessed by everyone and there is room for more books.
Ti Tree is 200 kilometres north of Alice Springs, in Anmatjere Country, and services the communities of Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya and Wilora. As the library is one of the only sources for books in the community (there are no book shops there), it is an important part of the community.
Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Work Health and Safety (WHS) got in on the action as well, as part of National Safe Work Month. They had the Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) and Indigenous Eye Health Unit resources available, and ran workshops on safety and mental health.
Early Childhood Australia ran fun children’s activities, helping to engage young children in libraries.
CDRC staff cooked the kangaroo tails on an outside fire, a local favourite food, as well as the usual barbecue. The event was well attended, as the library is highly valued by the community.
CDRC now has a dedicated Libraries department that is improving libraries across the Central Desert region, an area bigger than Victoria. They also have a library in Lajamanu, over 800 kilometres drive from Ti Tree.
CDRC libraries are safe places for the community to study, meet, connect, and have fun. There are spaces to study, research support and books written in language. At CDRC libraries, membership is free and everyone is welcome. Not only can residents borrow and return books, but they can also watch movies with headphones on and have access to a computer room.
