Only three libraries in Sydney never close. One council wants to change that

If you visited a different NSW public library every day, it would take a year to see all 365. But only three never turn off their lights, something one Sydney council wants to change.

There are two 24/7 libraries in the northern beaches, Forestville and Manly, while Ryde Council in February kicked off a one-year trial to open Eastwood Library around the clock.

Now Chatswood Library could follow suit, a plan Willoughby City Council explored after “strong and growing” demand for library services across Sydney.

At last Monday’s meeting, councillors voted to extend the library’s opening hours from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week, with a two-year trial expected to begin in early 2027. The trial would increase access from 72 to 105 hours a week and hinges on funding availability, something the council will assess in November.

Chatswood Library recorded about 970,000 visits in 2025-26, making it one of the most visited libraries in NSW – second only to the State Library. Chatswood Library has been described as a “safe haven” and the “single largest touchpoint” the council has with young people.

However, the council stopped short of committing to run the library 24/7, and initial modelling estimated it would cost about $1.4 million a year.

“The other 24-hour libraries that have opened are nothing of the scale of Chatswood Library,” said the council’s general manager, Hugh Phemister. “We’re really conscious that Chatswood Library is a different beast.”

Phemister said that existing planning controls did not allow for round-the-clock operations, something the council sought to amend with a fresh development application. If approved, the application would enable the flexibility for council to introduce 24-hour operations in future, during high-demand periods such as the HSC exams.

Common complaints that arose when the Herald spoke to students and library regulars were that most public libraries closed by 5pm or 6pm on most days, and libraries that open late in Sydney were few and far between – such as Parramatta Library, North Sydney’s Stanton Library, and the State Library of NSW. University libraries also require students to scan ID cards to access spaces after hours, and are not available to regular members of the public during these times.

Eighteen-year-old Sabian Concha said a common problem when he was a high school student was the library closing too early when he still had work to do.

“If I’m at home, I’ve got so many distractions around. It’s very hard to stay on one thing. But being surrounded by other people who are also doing work helps you focus,” said Concha, who is studying to become a piano technician.

Sarah Yaacoub, who is studying a project management course at TAFE, agreed.

“Especially with the rising cost of living and rent prices, it’s really nice to have a space where people can come for free and just sit. It’s a safe space as well, which I think is the most important,” the 27-year-old said.