LIBRARY HISTORY

1960-69

1965, October - Shire of Knox appointed Margaret Lewis as Regional Librarian for its new library service.

1967, August 7 - Shire of Knox Headquarters and Central Library opened in Ferntree Gully on Burwood Highway.

1968, August 14 - Agreement made between Shire of Knox and City of Ringwood to form the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Library Service.

1970-79

1970, May 4 - Ringwood library opened in Warrandyte Road.

1972, June - City of Croydon joined the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Library Service.

1973, October 15 - Croydon Library opened in Haig Ave.

1974, June 24 - Boronia High School Community Library opened.

1975, December 1 - Shire of Healesville joined the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Library Service.

1975, December 10 - Healesville Library opened.

1976, December 1 - Shire of Sherbrooke joined the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Library Service

1977, April 26 - Healesville Mobile Library service started.

1977, July 25 - Sherbrooke Mobile Library started.

1977, November 8 - Knox Library opened in Knox City Shopping Centre.

1977, November 14 - Regional Library Administration building opened.

1978, March 1 - Name changed from Eastern Metropolitan Regional Library Service to Eastern Regional Libraries.

1979, May 7 - Sherbrooke Library opened in Belgrave.

1980-89

1980, January 2 - Ferntree Gully Library opened.

1980, March - Margaret Lewis retired as Regional Librarian and John Binnion appointed to the position.

1980, June - Shire of Upper Yarra joined Eastern Regional Libraries.

1981, March 2 - New Croydon Library opened in Civic Square.

1981, May 4 - Upper Yarra Mobile Library started.

1982, November - Computer system introduced.

1985, September 19 - Knox Mobile Library started.

1986, July 14 - New Boronia Library opened after Boronia High School Community Library closed.

1986, September - Loans reached 2 million for the first time.

1989, August 21 - Rowville Library opened in Stud Park Shopping Centre.

1990-99

1993 - Yarra Junction Library opened in Hoddle Street and the Upper Yarra Mobile Library Service merged with the Healesville Mobile Library Service.

1995 March 27 - New Ringwood Library opened in Melbourne Street

1995, September - Amalgamation of Eastern Regional Libraries and Lilydale Library Service (branches at Lilydale, Montrose, Mooroolbark and Mt. Evelyn). Eastern Regional Libraries name retained for the new service.

1995/1996 - Upper Yarra/Healesville Mobile Library service merged with Lilydale Mobile Library service. New mobile library services were established-Knox Mobile, Ranges Mobile and Valley Mobile.

1996, June 13 - Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation created.

1996, August - Keith Beamish appointed as Chief Executive Officer of ERLC.

1997, February 26 - New Belgrave Library opened in Reynolds Lane.

2000 -

2000, October - Keith Beamish retired from position of CEO.

2000, December - John Binnion appointed as new CEO.

2002, November - Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation begins answering questions from Global Librarian, a 24/7 reference service in partnership with libraries from Canada and the UK.

2005, December - John Binnion retired as CEO.

2005, December - Joseph Cullen appointed as Chief Executive of ERLC.

2006, December - Global Librarian finishes and Eastern Regional Libraries starts it's own Ask-a-Librarian service.

2007, March - Eastern Regional Libraries goes live with SirsiDynix Unicorn library management system and the iBistro catalogue.

2007, November - Eastern Regional Libraries adopts new logo (with the 3 squares)

2008, March - Boronia Library re-opens after a major refurbishment

2008, October - Knox Library re-opens after a major refurbishment