Mosman Library Service is upgrading to a new library catalogue. This is an exciting change that will make accessing library services easier, faster, and more enjoyable from Tuesday 29 September. 

Some services will be unavailable from Sunday 13 to Monday 28 September as we make the change. The library will remain open and you can still borrow. For more information, please see the FAQs below. 

The new system will make it easier to:

• Search across books, eBooks and audiobooks
• Discover similar titles and staff recommendations
• Manage your loans, holds and account details
• Use the catalogue on your phone, tablet or computer

What will happen during the upgrade?

Our current online catalogue will be read-only from Sunday 13 to Monday 28 September. You will still be able to view the existing catalogue, but it will not update during the upgrade and may not show current availability.

The library will remain open and you can still borrow at the customer service desk. Please bring your physical library card, your digital library card in your digital wallet, or have your membership number ready.

No items will be due during this time. Please hold onto your items and make full use of this extended loan period. 

During this time:

• You will not be able to log in to your library account
• The Mosman Library Service App will be unavailable
• You will not be able to place or manage holds and there may be a delay in receiving your holds 
• Self-check machines and automated returns will be unavailable
• Staff will have no access to loan, hold and account information

Your account details, current loans and holds will transfer automatically. You do not need to do anything before the upgrade.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to improve our library services.

Staff are here to help during this time. Please drop-in to the library or contact us with any queries you may have. 

Frequently asked questions

Young creative minds were recognised and awarded on Friday evening at the 2026 Mosman Youth Awards in Literature. 

This year's competition saw over 400 entries by budding poets, playwrights and authors from primary and secondary schools.

First, second, and highly commended prizes were awarded in five poetry and short story categories for junior and senior secondary and primary school students, along with a Library's Choice Award.

Students can view their work in the MYAL Writers' Anthology 2026, available for free on BorrowBox with a Shorelink Library membership.

Primary Story 

• First Prize - The Day My Name Expired by Elise Cay
• Second Prize - The last chance by Minwoo Heo
• Highly Commended - The Blue Nylon Umbrella Mairah Kharwa

Junior Story 

• First Prize - Home In Heart by Summer Shao
• Second Prize - Worn and Forgotten by Jayvier Ho
• Highly Commended - The Night the Power Went Out by Richelle Lam

Senior Story 

• First Prize - Morning Brew by Laranya Nanthakumaran
• Second Prize - Do Not Disturb by Elly Lu
• Highly Commended - Washed Away by Tamara Wiley 

Junior Poetry 

• First Prize - Everyone has a friend by Ella Hastings 
• Second Prize - The World We Forgot to Miss by Annie Pham 
• Highly Commended - The Library of Unspoken Things by Gargi Yadav 
• Library's Choice Award - Monochrome by Cinny Yuan 

Senior Poetry 

• First Prize - Nothing Special About the Coast by Helena Tang
• Second Prize - Lost Property Gospel by Candice Zhan
• ​​​​​​​Highly Commended - Upon Being Asked to Return to Instagram by Yi Tang 

Read the winning entries. 

This Library and Information Week (27 July to 2 August), NSW public libraries are launching their most ambitious campaign in 87 years, which aims to grow membership to 50 percent of the state and connect more people with the life-changing benefits of libraries.

More than 3 million people (40 percent of the NSW population) currently belong to their public library. Minister for the Arts, the Hon John Graham MLC, believes thousands more could benefit from these free, vital ‘third spaces’, which are funded in partnership with local councils and supported by the NSW Government.

Minister Graham said: “We know people love libraries. New research into the social impact of libraries, commissioned by the State Library of NSW,* confirms what we’ve known all along — libraries contribute to healthier, smarter and more connected communities. Providing free access to knowledge through books, online resources and educational programs has never mattered more.”

"We see these benefits day in and day out, which is why this Government has invested a record $42.2 million in funding in 2026/27 for public libraries to improve their buildings, services and collections to better serve their communities.”

The membership drive is a key action of the NSW Government’s Stories Matter: A Writing and Literature Strategy for NSW, helping to ensure more people can access the books, resources, programs and opportunities that libraries provide right across the state.

NSW’s 365 library branches, including 27 mobile libraries, recorded 28.2 million visits and 41.2 loans in 2024/25. Annual visits have increased by 3 million and loans by almost 7 million since 2019/20.

According to State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon: “Libraries are special places. They provide one of our most valuable public services, and at their core libraries will always be about free and equitable access to books and information. If you haven’t visited one recently, you may be surprised by the extraordinary range of services, collections and spaces they offer — all free with a library card.

 The offerings of libraries include:

• An extensive range of audiobooks, ebooks and other digital resources
• Reference assistance and family history support
• Access to books and newspapers in 43 languages
• Unusual borrowing collections including ukuleles, telescopes, seeds and cake tins
• Family programs, cultural events and special interest groups such as book clubs, knitting clubs and Tai Chi classes
• Dedicated spaces for learning and creativity: language cafes, makers spaces, sewing stations, recording studios and editing suites
• Out-of-hours and 24-hour access (e.g. Forestville, Manly, Eastwood and Gordon libraries).

“Free books are just the beginning. Whether you’re looking to access free wi-fi, download new-release ebooks, learn something new, trace your family history, join a storytime session, find a quiet space to work or study, gather with friends, or meet new people, your public library is here for you,” says Dr Butler-Bowdon.

“We know the positive impacts libraries have on individuals and their communities, and the challenge now is making sure every person knows what their local library can offer them.”

Over 500 people have shared what their library means to them as part of the State Library’s 200th Anniversary initiative, The Library That Made Me, an online portal that invites library lovers to share their personal stories. Some examples include:

Jett from Sutherland Public Library: “I usually come here with my friends and it plays a pretty big role in how I study. I find it hard keeping a clean desk at home, so I can just come here and set up shop and stay for hours.”

Lhamo from Dee Why Public Library: I was born in Tibet ... When I first came to Australia [in 2022], I always come here to read and then meet with the other people ... I come here for [her daughter's] Tibetan storytelling class and it's amazing, it's really helpful for us.”

Jack from Orange Library: “I've been coming to the library every morning for about the last eight years. The library, to me, is a place where I can come, read the paper, get a book, get a movie. In other words, it provides a fair bit of entertainment for me …"

Read more stories and contribute your own story here: sl.nsw.gov.au/shareyourstory

Help NSW reach 50% membership and join your public library today:
sl.nsw.gov.au/join-your-library

Borrow sewing machines, robots, movie projectors, coding kits and more with our Library of Things collection.

With nearly 40 kits to borrow from, the Discovery Collection allows you to borrow more, try before you buy, and waste less. Whether you're wanting to try a new hobby, improve your STEM skills, explore the outdoors or enjoy premium entertainment, browse the collection and borrow a kit today! 

See the Discovery Collection T&Cs for more information. 

Getting to the library

Bus - the library is a short distance from Spit Junction. Popular buses include the B1, 100 and 199. 

Car - there are a limited number of accessible parking spaces in the carpark next to the library. Enter the Mosman Square Carpark via The Crescent. This carpark offers free two-hour parking. 

Getting into the library

The entrance to the library is wheelchair accessible with an automatic door.

Enter via Library Walk, 605 Military Walk, Mosman. 

Getting around the library

Barry O’Keefe Library is a two level library with a wheelchair accessible lift between the two levels. 

There are two service desk points as you enter the library. Staff can help you find your way around and do their best to answer any questions you have. 

Other services

The library has an accessible toilet including a change table located near the library entrance.

You can borrow audiobooks, large print and dyslexia-friendly books at the library. 

The library provides computers with screen magnification for general use and searching the catalogue 

The library offers a free and tailored home delivery service to residents who are physically unable to visit the library. 

For further questions regarding accessibility please contact library@mosman.nsw.gov.au.

Barry O'Keefe Library will be closed for all public holidays in April. 

Regular hours resume Tuesday 7 April.

Regular hours resume Tuesday 28 April. 

Items that would have been due throughout our closures will be automatically extended and due back when we open again. Our returns chute will remain open if you have items you wish to bring back. 

The Premier's Reading Challenge is a great resource for finding age-appropriate titles for your children. Look out for the stickers pictured above on books throughout the collection or click on relevant links below to see what the library has: 

• Titles for years K-2

• Titles for years 3-4

• Titles for years 5-6

• Titles for years 7-9

• Titles for years 9+

The Premier's Reading Challenge is for all readers from Kindergarten to Year 10 in government, independent, Catholic or home schools and aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. Talk to your child's school to learn how to sign up to the challenge. 

Artwork by Shaun Tan. 

Council has endorsed the draft Mosman Library Strategy 2026–2030, voting at its meeting on 3 February 2026 to place the document on public exhibition. 

The Strategy outlines Council’s vision and priorities for the next four years of library services, with a strong focus on community expectations. Community input has been central to the creation of the document, and the exhibition period is designed to ensure the final Strategy reflects local needs and interests. 

Residents are encouraged to review the draft Strategy and provide feedback via a short online survey. Hard copies of the document are also available for viewing at Barry O'Keefe Library and at the Mosman Council Civic Centre, in addition to being publicly accessible on Council’s Have Your Say website. 

The public exhibition period will run until Friday 13 March 2026, after which all submissions will be reviewed before the document is finalised. 

We encourage community members to have their say and contribute to shaping the future of Mosman’s library services. 

Mosman Library Service is pleased to announce a new library card design! Sign up to the library today to receive your new library card. 

To become a member of the library, click here. 

Mosman Library Service is pleased to announce an evening Justice of the Peace service, commencing Tuesday 3 February 2026.

This service is in addition to our existing Justice of the Peace offering. You will find a JP at the library at the following times: 

• Every Tuesday evening from 5.30–7.30pm
• Every Wednesday afternoon from 12–2pm

To find out more about what a volunteer JP can do for you, click here.