Going to her local library wasn’t the first thing Dorothy Joyce McGillivray did when she arrived in Australia as a 10 pound Pom in 1952.
No, the first thing Dorothy did was to unpack her bags in her lodgings at East Hills Hostel.
But the second thing was getting acquainted with what became her home for the next 69 years – Liverpool Library.
Dorothy, who is now 96 years old, has notched up an amazing 14,000 books from Liverpool City Library, where she is the longest serving member.
“One of the first things my husband Dougal McGillivray and I did when I arrived in Australia was to join Liverpool Library and it became my second home. It’s such a wonderful place that has grown so much over the years,” says Ms Gillivray.
“In 1952 there was only one library in the Liverpool area (there are now six). Initially living at East Hills, then Rossmore and Casula and with limited transport opportunities it was quite difficult to get to the library.
“I love reading about other cultures and the books I’ve borrowed at Liverpool Library took me around the world.
“Archaeology and history are my favourite topics, so I’ve spent a lot of time in those sections.”
Dorothy’s top five books of all time also reveal a penchant for biographies on the power and politics of the royal family through time. Her top read is Queen Anne: The politics of passion by Lady Anne Somerset.
She remembers the days of no computers when she could only borrow two books at a time.
The library provided a constant for her through parenthood, grandparenthood and the loss of her husband in 1992.
“I just kept going back,” Dorothy said.
“Reading gives me such pleasure and the staff at Liverpool library are such wonderful people as well.”
Osteoarthritis prevented Dorothy from visiting her beloved library some years ago, but, thanks to a decades-long friendship with library staffer Mary Bush, she was able to keep on borrowing.
“I have been delivering books to Dorothy’s house and now her nursing home in Liverpool for 14 years,” Ms Bush said.
“It’s a professional relationship, but it is also a friendship. Dorothy’s passion for reading is infectious and inspiring. I am happy to provide this service to her and I have a great connection to Dorothy and her family.’’
The relationship between Dorothy and Mary captures the essence of Library and Information Week (May 17-23) which celebrates the work that library and information workers do around Australia.
