The Diamond Valley Library features a large community garden and Garden Maker Space. We are proud to be the only public library that is a member of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. We run a lot of gardening skills programs for members of all ages, and we incorporate gardening into our Storytimes and STEM activities. We also offer an active seed library where community members can take seeds to grow in their own garden, and then bring in their propagated seeds to share with others.
We love animals — Diamond Valley Library was the first library in Victoria to launch a Reading Dogs program, which promotes children’s literacy by having children read aloud to dogs. Dogs make a fantastic audience for readers, as they are non-judgemental, and don’t know when you make a mistake. We’ve also had lots of visiting animals over the years, including some local alpacas for a special reading of Alpacas with Maracas during National Simultaneous Storytime.
In 2021 the library had a major upgrade including a new glass roof. Other features include a parents’ room, fully accessible gender-neutral toilets, a new community room, meeting pods, tech pods, and an outdoor deck that allows library users to work or lounge in the beautiful garden. There is also a co-working zone, for entrepreneurs and micro-businesses, with space for training, workshops, and to brainstorm.
If you’ve been unable to make it into the branch, take a look at our virtual tour!
Chatty Cafe Scheme Australia Ltd proudly acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander custodians of this land where we work and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
Donations of $2 or more to Chatty Café Scheme Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.