Libraries
Click here to visit the Libraries website Bunbury Public Library Opening Hours Contact Telephone: (08) 9792 7190; Fax: (08) 9792 7184 Street address: Parkfield Street, Bunbury WA 6230 Postal address: PO Box 1981, Bunbury WA 6231 Email: bunlib@bunbury.wa.gov.au Withers Community Library Opening Hours Contact Telephone: (08) 9792 7244; Fax: (08) 9792 7184 Street address: Hudson Road, Bunbury WA 6230 Postal address: PO Box 1981, Bunbury WA 6231 E-mail: wrslib@bunbury.wa.gov.au Joining up To borrow items you need to be a Member of the Libraries. Becoming a Member is simple, just call into either the City/Regional Library or Withers Branch with proof of your current residential address, e.g. drivers licence, and we will do the rest. The best part is - Membership Is Free!
Once you are a Member, your Library card can be used to borrow items from either Library and access our online resources. You can borrow up to twelve items for 3 weeks. Loans can be renewed by phone, in person, or via this website.
If your library card is lost or stolen, or if you change your address, please notify us immediately.
Community use spaces
Bunbury Library: The Bunbury Library has an activity room and a small meeting room for use by community non-profit groups and commercial organisations. The activity room caters for up to 40 people and includes data projection equipment and a small kitchenette. The small meeting room accommodates up to 6 people. Both rooms are available for use throughout library opening hours.
Withers Community Library: The meeting room caters for up to 40 people and includes data projection equipment and a small kitchenette.
Bookings are essential, and fees apply for commercial use. For further information, contact the Library on 9792 7244 or by email at bunlib@bunbury.wa.gov.au.
Non-profit community group activities and events can be advertised without charge on the Bunbury Library’s public TV screens. Guidelines for presentation can be obtained from the Library on 9792 7190 or by email at bunlib@bunbury.wa.gov.au.
Information services
Information resources include encyclopaedias, dictionaries, directories and online databases. Local community and historical information is also available at the City Library. If we can't help on the spot, we can call upon the resources of the State Reference Library and 230 public libraries throughout the State to assist us. Simply ask a staff member.
A range of online databases are licensed under a state wide agreement and are available for use from home using your Library membership card. To access the databases click on the catalogue link, and then follow the Online Resources or Other resources links. Titles available include:
- Ancestry Library edition (for use within the Library only)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica Library Edition Online
- Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre (Ebsco)
- TumbleBook Library
- Health and Wellness Resource Center (Gale)
- Business Source Elite (Ebsco)
- Novelist (Ebsco)
Resources
The City Library and Withers Branch Library have something for everyone including:
Audio books: The Libraries’ audiocassette collection is gradually being phased out in favour of CDs and MP3s. Most items in this collection are popular Adult Fiction titles narrated by well-known actors. They provide a simple and enjoyable alternative to reading a book, and are also very useful for people with a vision impairment or other reading difficulty. There are also talking books for young children, and a small range of Adult Non- Fiction titles.
Audio-visual: The Libraries’ videocassette collection is being phased out in favour of DVDs. Audiovisual resources provide an ideal way to learn about a subject through moving images, and can demonstrate skills and processes that are otherwise difficult to explain. The emphasis of the Collection is on information titles rather than movies. As well as adult titles on a range of subjects, the Libraries have a number of audiovisual resources especially for children.
Books: The City's Libraries have over 40,000 books for all ages and all interests. As well as adult resources, there are picture books for preschoolers through to young adult books, literacy resources, large print books, and books in other languages. The book collection includes Fiction works covering a wide range of genres, and Non- Fiction works covering the major areas of human knowledge and endeavour. Most of the Libraries' books can be loaned. Exceptions are items in the Reference Collection (mainly encyclopaedias and dictionaries) and the Bunbury Local Studies Collection.
Language learning: The Libraries have small Language Learning Centres established with funding from the Office of Multicultural Interests and the Lotteries Commission. The Centres cater for people from non-English speaking backgrounds who wish to improve their English language skills, and people who are keen to learn a language other than English. As well as books, the Centres have other language learning materials such as audiocassette kits, videocassettes, and CD-ROMs. Small, portable language learning laboratories are also available. Languages represented in the Centres are Indonesian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Adult Literacy Learning: The City Library has a small collection of reading kits for adults learning to read or learning English as a second language, and for those with reading disorders. The kits are self-paced and do not require a teacher or tutor. They progress through proficiency levels, commencing at 40 words per minute (Level 1) and finishing at 150-160 words a minute (Level 9), which is close to normal reading speed. Materials for learning English as a second language are held in the Libraries' Language Learning Centre and can also be useful for adults learning to read.
Magazines: The Libraries maintain subscriptions to a range of magazines including Childrens’ and Young Adults' titles. Australian titles are preferred if available, and we strive to cover major informational interests. The Libraries also subscribe to The West Australian, Australian and South Western Times newspapers. Current issues of magazines are not for loan.
Music: The Libraries have a growing collection of music CDs in a range of genres including classical, ethnic, popular, jazz, ecclesiastical, folk, country and western and children's music. The collection augments the Libraries' other music resources by enabling users to listen to some better-known composers and artists recorded work, as well as some lesser known work. Because of its small size, however, the collection is only modestly representational in any one genre.
