New library model to benefit communities

Published: 17 Sep 2021 12:30pm

New and expanded services to suburbs and rural villages in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area are among the many benefits of a standalone Wagga Wagga City Library service to start from July 2022.

At the 13 September Ordinary Meeting, Council resolved to approve a standalone library service to be implemented on the expiry of the current Riverina Regional Library Deed of Agreement as at 30 June 2022.

Community feedback received during the recent Library Review indicated that there was a growing need for the library service to respond to the current and growing population needs of the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area.

An increase in multicultural services along with the establishment of a new agile library service that would provide weekly services to suburban and rural village communities in the LGA were identified as priorities.

Director Community Janice Summerhayes said the model for a new standalone service is the result of Council progressing with the priority actions outlined in the adopted Cultural Plan and Library Review.

“There has been a considerable amount of community consultation undertaken that has informed this decision and delivering the best possible library service here in our community no matter where you live in the Local Government Area is our goal,” Ms Summerhayes said.

“At the heart of this decision is the commitment by Council to provide our residents and ratepayers with a library service that is responsive and flexible to the needs of our diverse community.

“The increase in library services includes expanding services across seven days to offer more life-long learning opportunities, increasing multicultural, community literacy and technology services and programs and the roll out of a new weekly agile library van service to suburbs across the city and to rural village communities in our local government area.”