MORE than half the population of Dubbo, Wellington, Narromine and Warrumbungle Local Government Areas (LGAs) are members of their local library service.
That’s 36,185 registered members of the Macquarie Regional Library (MRL) service against a total regional population of 67,557 or 53 per cent of the combined region.
According to MRL Director, John Bayliss, the membership per population reflects the positive and important role the library plays in all the communities.
“The regional library service supports the communities in rural and regional areas who rely on their local library to meet their information, recreational and literacy needs, providing a place to meet, to be able access the Internet and take advantage of a number of programs and services for all ages “Mr Bayliss said.
Growing demands on the region’s libraries have necessitated a number of upgrades and “facelifts” to several branches.
Funding has come from the member Councils and State Government funding.
In February this year the refurbishment of the Dunedoo Branch library located in the Dunedoo Multi-Purpose Service Centre was completed with a NSW State Library’s Public Library Infrastructure Grant of $199,000 and also support from funds from the Cobbora Transition fund and Warrumbungle Shire Council.
Mr Bayliss said the key elements of that project were an increase in floor space plus improved layout and access to the collection.
“There is a new circulation desk, more shelving, new furniture, and space to provide activities and events such as story time, school holiday activities, exhibitions and displays.”
In addition, air-conditioning, new carpet, painting and lighting have transformed this community service centre.
A $200,000 major refurbishment of the Dubbo Branch Library is currently underway with Dubbo City Council and NSW State Library funding that will reflect the modern role of libraries, according to Mr Bayliss.
“It will create the library as a community hub for everyone,” he said.
“Our collections will be presented in a more customer focussed manner with more flexible and adaptable space anticipating community needs.”
The multifunctional space allows for a range of activities including travelling exhibitions, children’s storytelling and meeting areas for community groups.
“There will be additional areas for casual reading and study and also improved space to showcase the great historic resources of the local government area,” Mr Bayliss said.
Local libraries are not just places for borrowing books.
Mr Bayliss said Macquarie Regional Library branches and service points provide a large resource of DVDs, CDs and audio books.
“eBooks, eAudio and eMagazines are readily available as are references for research and study,” he said.
“There is also free access to the internet including WiFi, computers for word processing as well as photocopying, scanning and facsimile service.”
