The library and community facility  is shared between Young High School and the community. In 2018, the NSW Department of Education and Hilltops Council signed a Heads of Agreement, which sets out design principles, facility use and governance of the joint use library and community facility. In October 2019, the deed and lease documents were endorsed by both parties,  covering the management structures, legal and financial arrangements, design and construction considerations and governance of the joint use facility.

Hilltops Council contributed $6.5 million to the joint use library and community facility. This is made up of $3 million from the Regional Cultural Fund, $2 million from the Stronger Communities Fund and a $1.5 million loan specifically for the library project.

The NSW Department of Education funded the remainder of the project.

The heritage features of the land, Carrington Park, the old Courthouse and its setting were important aspects for developing the design of the project. Heritage studies, including European and Aboriginaland archaeological salvage works were included in the program of works. Any objects and materials found have been catalogued and arrangements made for their storage and display.

The design of the project was developed in close consultation with heritage consultants GML Heritage and responded to the project brief, site opportunities and constraints, as well as the heritage significance of the site.

School Infrastructure NSW conducted investigations to explore claims of  an underground prisoner transfer tunnel between the formerCourthouse (located within the school site) and Gaol (located within the TAFE site),  but did not find any evidence of a  tunnel.

Investigations included:

• ground penetrating radar scans to depths of four metres completed in two areas identified by a member of the public as possible locations for the tunnel
• site investigations undertaken beneath the floor of the former Courthouse building.

The archaeological salvage works also did not uncover any evidence of a tunnel.

Carrington Park has been upgraded with a new pathway to provide clear and easy access for the community to the new library. The existing facilities in Carrington Park, such as the playground, BBQ facilities, public toilets and Band Rotunda, will remain available for community use.

During school hours the community has sole access to approximately:

• 44% of the lower ground floor
• 30% of the upper ground floor

Level 1 is for school access only. Outside of school hours, the community will have access to the majority of spaces in the facility, with certain usage conditions. Some collections will remain separate.

The previous Young Library has a usable floor area of 370m2. The total area of the new joint use facility isapproximately 2500m2, with a core community area of  approximately 1200m2, an  increase of around 220% in space for the community. 

Outside of school hours, the area to the north of the new library building and around the former Courthouse will also be available for community use. This will provide greater opportunities to connect with the historic Courthouse building.

Joint use libraries have operated in Australia for many years. We have drawn on the successful designs and protocols used by others to ensure everyone can safely access and enjoy the facility.

We have incorporated variable security boundaries for the joint use space facing Carrington Park; one for use during school hours and another for use after school hours. There will also be separate access points and secure lines and dividers used within the library to separate community spaces, joint use spaces and school spaces during school hours.