It is hard to believe Mona Vale Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary and it was made possible thanks to one local’s five-year plight to give this part of the peninsula access to this essential community facility.

We interview the daughter of the late Olive Beaton, 68-year-old Linda Touw of North Narrabeen about her mother’s incredible determination and passion.

Tell me about your mum? She seemed like a pioneer.

My parents bought a new house in Mona Vale after they married in the early 1950’s, where our family was raised. As the area grew, my mum developed a keen interest in her community, its growth, and the facilities it offered. She was very devoted and determined to succeed in her goals for the betterment of the community.

Why was she so passionate about Mona Vale getting a library?

With two children at primary school, she came to realise how important a library was to the whole community. Warringah Shire Library was so far to reach after school and it was even more difficult without a car. This spurred her passion to establish a library in Mona Vale.

Did she reach any hurdles?

I’m unsure about hurdles, but I remember her attending numerous Warringah Council meetings, organising deputations, and sending letters to campaign for and promote such a facility over a period of five years. She was also elected to the General Committee of the Mona Vale Branch of the Friends of Warringah Shire Library which was formed in 1970 and provided much support to the campaign.  

How did she feel when it was certain the project would go ahead? 

She was thrilled that her dream of bringing a public library service to the residents of the northern part of the Shire had finally become a reality! This also rewarded the Branch Library committee group for their efforts. 

Mum’s contribution to the establishment of the library was commemorated in a tree-planting ceremony to mark the commencement of construction of the new building.

How often would she visit the library when it opened?

My mum had a close relationship with my two children - Melanie and Craig, who shared her great love of reading, and she regularly took them to the library, which they very much enjoyed.

Was there something she favoured or likes most about the library?

Pittwater Council built a second Mona Vale Library in 2004, which she very happily endorsed as it has considerably more space, houses many more books, and caters for various activities such as talks by authors, children’s book-reading sessions, etc. This was of great satisfaction to her.

If she was still alive, what would she say about the anniversary?

She would say she feels very proud that the library has been of such wonderful benefit to the Pittwater (Northern Beaches) community for all of these years. She used to also say she felt vindicated by the establishment of the library that she was so passionate about, and in her own words, "it certainly made all those council meeting attendances worthwhile."   

Mona Vale Library officially opened on the 3 September 1972 and this weekend an event to commemorate this milestone will be held at the library including a photographic exhibition, local historian talk and afternoon tea. Find out more.

Mona Vale Library now houses a collection of over 44,500 physical items including DVD’s, audio books, and magazines.

Over the past year, the library facilitated over 16000 Wi-Fi sessions, 3500 hours of public computer usage, and hosted 92 Storytime sessions with an audience of 2500 children and their carers.

In the last 12 months, community members have loaned more than 142,000 items from this branch and the home library service team has dropped off 102 items to housebound customers.

Mona Vale Library is also home to knitting and reading groups, the Sunday Movie Club, and the Memory Lane Café.