Burnside Library

The Burnside Library is a public library in the City of Burnside, Adelaide. Located on the corner of Greenhill and Portrush Roads, it is part of the Burnside Civic Centre. The library was one of the first public libraries in South Australia, opening to the public on 8 April 1961. In 2000, the library and the civic centre underwent a major renovation. As of 2010^[update], it has 26 computers, free wireless access, and over 6,000 DVDs available to the public. It has more than 1,000 visitors a day and approximately 65% of all residents are registered borrowers. The library collection contains more 135,000 across 2,200 square metres of floor space. In 2015, there were 910,000 item loans. The library provides language classes, genealogy classes, computer classes, author talks, library tours, youth activities, story-time, baby-chat, and other programs.

The first library for the public in the Burnside area was the Glen Osmond Mechanics' Institute, established in 1854 – 2 years before the formation of the District Council of Burnside. A resident of Birksgate near Glen Osmond, solicitor Arthur Hardy, built a room on his property (opposite the Toll House on Mount Barker Road) for the purposes of establishing a Mechanics' Institute. Mechanics' Institutes were an English idea, formed with the philanthropic and rather paternalistic aim of the 'mental improvement of the working man'. The first in South Australia – the Adelaide Mechanics' Institute – was established in 1838 and initially funded solely by members' subscriptions – 24s a year. A library was just one aspect of the institute, which provided not just a reading room and library but also literacy classes, lectures on a wide variety of subjects and musical soirees (often held when there was a full moon, so as to make traveling easier and safer). After 1856 with the passing of the Institutes Act Institute libraries were funded partly by government subsidy and partly by subscription and admission fees and donations and ceased to be known as Mechanics' Institutes. They were however never free public libraries in the modern sense. Arthur Hardy's plan was to provide a building for the use of his employees and those living on his property (he operated a quarry and vineyard), and also neighbors and others who wished to use the facility. According to 'The history and topography of Glen Osmond' 'he only required one restriction, which he thought requisite, ... - that no person should have right to join or remain as a member... without his consent. Mr. Hardy stated at the same time his wish to make the Institute as generally useful as possible, and expressed his belief that he would not have occasion to exercise the power he retained.' Interest in the Institute waned between December 1855 and June 1859 but was revived in June 1859 with a lecture on the Crimean war and the gift of 100 volumes from the English political philosopher John Stuart Mill (he also happened to be Arthur Hardy's brother in law). By the 1860s there were more than 300 books in the library.

A new Institute building was erected on Glen Osmond road in 1877 (with a government subsidy). At the opening the Hon W Morgan MLC made a speech where he said there was no need to enumerate the advantages of such a building – and then proceeded to do just that: people who had children could send them to it for valuable information; ladies whose husbands did not spend all their evenings at home would have the satisfaction of thinking that they were studying in the institute, and bachelors would have a place to profitably pass their leisure hours. (From The history and topography of Glen Osmond). By this time the bookstock had increased to over a thousand volumes.

The Glen Osmond Institute moved again in 1965 to its present site near the top of Portrush Road. The Institutes Association was dissolved in the 1980s but nonetheless at the time of writing (2000) a subscription library still operates there in the Institute building, one of the last in South Australia. (NB the library has since closed and the building has been demolished).

The second library for the public in Burnside was established in 1857 and housed in the Magill school on Magill Road. The Magill Institute was never a Mechanics' Institute and while its aims were more modest its activities were similar. When opened, it had 200 books, supplemented, after September 1859, by the temporary loans from the Adelaide Institute. The Magill Institute Library survived well into the 20th century, moving to specially built premises on the Campbelltown side of Magill Road in 1900. This building now houses a picture theatre.

These were the only institute libraries in Burnside; after the Magill Institute moved to the other side of Magill Road, the Glen Osmond Institute was the only public library in Burnside until 1961. Adjoining councils also had institute libraries: on the Norwood Parade there was the Norwood Institute, which now houses the Norwood branch of the Norwood, Payneham and St Peters library service); and in Unley, by 1929, there were 5 institute libraries.

Despite the introduction by the State Library of a free Country Lending Service in 1938, an Adult Lending service in 1946 and a Youth Lending Service in 1957, by the 1950s the disadvantages of the centralized services for people in the suburbs together with the deficiencies of the Institute system were well recognized and moves for free municipal libraries gained momentum. After several years of campaigning by the Free library movement, Herbert Skipper of the Libraries Board, politicians (including Don Dunstan) and others in the community the Playford government passed the Libraries (Subsidies) Act in 1955 which provided subsidies to Local Councils for the building, establishment and administration of free public libraries. The first free Municipal library in South Australia was the Elizabeth Library, opened in December 1957. Burnside was not to follow until 1961.

Initial proposals for a free library in Burnside came in 1955, but did not bear fruit. S.H. Skipper addressed the Council and at the suggestion of Cr Holmes a report was prepared but nothing much happened until 1957 when the mayor, Philip Claridge, revived the idea. A committee was formed and another report resulted – but no action. Then in February 1958 a more concrete proposal with costing was formulated. The eastern portion of the Town Hall site was suggested as a possible site – but again the matter was deferred, pending a more detailed cost analysis, including the cost of a mobile as well as a static library. In February 1959 Mayor Claridge tried again, telling the Council: "Burnside Council has made a magnificent contribution at considerable cost for the provision of physical recreational facilities for young and old alike. But I think you will agree that other than subsidizing the Burnside Symphony Orchestra and the Burnside Woman’s Choir, it has done very little in promoting the cultural activities for its citizens". Finally, Mayor Claridge's advocacy was successful and a resolution that an approach be made to the Libraries Board setting out a scheme for a library and seeking approval for a subsidy was carried 8 votes to 6. The library opened on 8 April 1961 with a book-stock of 7,800 and a staff of 3. In accordance with Mayor Claridge's vision a children's library was part of the library from the beginning. The cost of the building, furniture and fittings was £10,000, and the annual running costs £4,050 half of which was paid by the State Government. The Council did not need to borrow to establish the library and there was no ratepayer poll or any formal community consultation.