Fremantle Library has once again been recognised for its out-of-the-box thinking by taking out the prestigious Library Board of WA Excellence Award 2022 for Innovation and Collaboration.
The library was presented the award for its work in spearheading the unique LibraryCraft project, a free Minecraft server with multiple worlds for WA players aged between 7-17 years old.
Fremantle Library Manager Jayne Cleave said LibraryCraft was a truly innovative program that has made a real impact to the lives of young people in WA.
“This award is wonderful recognition of a program that was seeded during the Covid lockdowns and has built a supportive and creative community stretching the length of the state,” Ms Cleave said.
“Now a collaboration with 34 local governments in WA, LibraryCraft offers children the opportunity to explore multiple online connected worlds, where they can build a home, create just about anything they can imagine, enter competitions and play games with friends.
“The judging panel was impressed with level of participation in LibraryCraft across the state, which demonstrates the strength of the project and its broad appeal.
“It helps to attract younger users to public libraries, and also fosters online and digital skills within a safe online environment.
“Congratulations to the LibraryCraft team and server owner John Geijsman, as well as the Lifelong Learning team for the amazing work they have done to support this program.”
This is the second year running that Fremantle Library has taken home the Library Board of WA Excellence Award for Innovation and Collaboration.
Last year the library won the award for the ground-breaking Library Connect program, in which a St Patrick’s Community Support Centre support worker is based at the library to provide advice, referrals and support to people experiencing homelessness and other hardships.
Fremantle Library is located in the Walyalup Civic Centre and is open 9am-7pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
