A state-of-the-art hub at Windale has thrown out the book on traditional library design.
Bookworms will love the new 'community loungeroom' concept at the Windale Hub, bilyabayi, which is a far cry from the old-school library layout.
The $10.4 million project is kitted out with a recording studio, meeting rooms, a new community hall and Fab Lab with all the bells and whistles.
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said the whole building is an example of the council's push towards eco-friendly design and practice.
"We've embraced a new approach to the building's design and function, with a much more open-plan feel, vibrant and interactive spaces and some really impressive technology," she said.
"Windale Hub, bilyabayi, demonstrates our commitment to providing modern and innovative library and community spaces for the Lake Mac community."
The council is working behind the scenes to see Windale Hub become one of the first Green 4-Star Certified facilities in the city.
The space is home to a new collection of books, digital media and materials to cater to the diverse interests of the community.
Inside there is a small coffee kiosk for bookworms to fuel up for their next chapter, and rooms for community organisations to provide outreach.
It will open to the public on Saturday, August 24 with a community celebration from 9am to 2pm.
Lake Macquarie City Council Arts, Culture and Tourism manager Jacqui Hemsley said Windale is a more suitable space for the Fab Lab than Swansea, given the council was able to tailor the space in a more central location.
"I'm so excited about the opportunities the Fab Lab and the Windale Hub as a whole will bring," she said.
"We're looking forward to the positive impact it will have on the local community, from preschool kids learning to read, to seniors seeking opportunities to socialise, and everyone in between."
The new building features soaring, slanted ceilings, with a huge public artwork hanging from above.
The artwork, titled Yamuloong, is a collaboration of local Aboriginal artist Saretta Fielding and Sydney-based Jade Oakley.
It represents people and place, and its colours reflect the local earth and waterways.
Ms Hemsley said a significant proportion of the Windale community is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and the artwork answers a call to bring a First Nations presence into the space.
"Each small mobile within the artwork represents a person, and combined they represent the community coming together around the gathering circle," she said.
The facility also features a custom-made return chute made by Codewise featuring artwork by local artist Jodie Reynolds, a proud Kamilaroi woman.
The dual name of bilyabayi is an Awabakal word meaning 'valley', a nod to the area's low-lying geography.
The hub will be open from August 26 from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and 9am until 12pm on Saturdays.
The community hall is available for booking outside library hours.
