Well, my favourite book is The Day My Bum Went Psycho,
but I don't think that's a very appropriate costume
for Book Week.
(SIGHS) I don't know, Jas.
If only there was a place filled with books
that I could borrow, read, return!
Oh! It just hit me!
The library!
(CLANG!)
I've really got to stop throwing my phone.
Comical Voice: Wow!
Hi! I'm Dionne! Hi! I'm Jack.
Welcome. There's a lot of books here.
Yeah, there's heaps and heaps of books, and lots more.
Do you think there might be a book here
that can give me some inspiration for a costume?
Yes, I do. Do you want to go and have a look?
Yeah. Excellent.
Libraries have been around for a long time.
A really, really long time.
Go back around 2,700 years,
and some would say this was the first one -
the Library of Ashurbanipal,
filled with thousands of clay tablets.
The first library that was open to the public
was the Library of Alexandria, built in Egypt in 323 BCE.
Unfortunately, it was kinda, sorta accidentally burned down
by a guy called Julius Caesar.
We'll save him for another story.
But the idea of a public place
where people could access information and stories kind of took off.
Here in Australia the first public library
was built in Victoria in 1854.
And by the middle of last century, public libraries were popping up
all over the country, usually funded by state governments.
Back then they were super important
because, without internet and smartphones and everything else,
they were sort of the only place
you could go to get information for, say, school projects.
But, of course, that's not the case anymore.
So, this library is pretty different to the ones I had growing up.
How have libraries changed? Yeah. Look, it's really interesting.
I think there's lots of things that are the same, so obviously,
books are still a big part of it.
But now there's a lot more technology.
And so, whether that's computers or virtual reality,
makerspaces, spanners, tools, whatever,
you can all get it at the library now.
This library even has a 3D printer,
a media room for all your visual and audio needs,
as well as plenty of spaces you can sit back, relax
and read, well, a good book.
What about Mary Poppins? Yeah, maybe...
Ah, What about A Series of unfortunate Events? Yeah, that's a good one.
I love that series. What about Andy Griffiths?
Dionne says while the internet and e-books have had a big effect
on libraries around the world,
Australia's libraries have managed to stay relevant
by being flexible and adapting to new technology.
I think in the future we'll still provide access and information,
which is fundamentally what we're about.
It probably doesn't really matter
if it's a physical book or if it's digital.
So really, what we're here for
is to make sure, you know, everyone's got access
to that information and if it's through your phone
or if it's through a book, that's our role.
And if we weren't doing it, who would be?
Plus, it's a great place for kids to come
and get some inspiration for Book Week.
Yes, it is. It absolutely is.
I think Book Week is a really fun time of the year for everyone
and you can, yeah, read a book and get inspired
or you can get a costume.
And on that note, I think I know what my costume is.
Oh, what is it? I'll show you.
Excellent!
Hmm?
(RUMBLING)
(ROARING)
(THUMP)
(ROAR)
(JACK ROARS BADLY... actually it's more of a screeching than roaring)
(ROAR)
ha, What are you?
Uh, I'm a...thesaurus.
Oh, right. What kind of dinosaur is that?
I think they're a 'verbivore'.
(LAUGHS)
I hope I win.
Yeah, I don't know about that!
Oh...