$4 MILLION NSW GOVERNMENT FUNDING BOOST FOR LIBRARIES

Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant today announced $4 million in funding for 30 councils across the state to improve public library buildings, spaces and information technology for communities.

 

Mr Grant said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government understands the importance of public libraries in communities to life-long learning.

 

“The NSW Government recognises libraries need to adapt and designed this program to assist local government to develop and improve facilities and resources,” Mr Grant said. 

 

“The NSW Government has a strong track record of delivering for public libraries and has invested more than $27.5 million in 2015/16 to meet the growing and varied needs of our communities.

 

“This new funding program has improved library services across the state. Communities from Bermagui to Bathurst, Coffs Harbour to Cooma and Wollongong to Warren are just some of the winners in the scheme this year,” Mr Grant said.

 

The Public Library Infrastructure Grant program will allocate $15 million over four years to enhance library services and facilities and is administered by the State Library on behalf of the NSW Government.

 

MEDIA: Rachael Hayes | Deputy Premier | 0408 235 997

 

 

 

Grant Recipients:

 

Albury City Council: $86,000 towards the refurbishment of the Library’s youth space, including technology, improved collections, exhibition and workshop space.

 

Bathurst Regional Council: $200,000 to renew, refresh and revitalise Bathurst Library, creating a community living room with reading nooks, collection zones and flexible spaces.

 

Bega Valley Shire Council: $94,601 to extend radio frequency identification to Bermagui and Eden libraries to provide a broader range of services to the community.

 

Camden Council: $200,000 towards a new library at Oran Park.

 

Clarence Valley Council: $132,000 for a new mobile library vehicle to provide technology access and training to remote communities.

 

Cobar Shire Council: $114,681 to transform an underused area of the library arcade into a community meeting room and provide storage for the library’s unique local history collection.

 

Coffs Harbour City Council: $43,580 to improve technology access to the library’s e-resources collection.

 

Cooma-Monaro Shire Council: $15,894 for a new microform reader/scanner.

 

Coonamble Shire Council: $74,031 to improve the library space with modern movable shelving and furniture.

 

Eurobodalla Shire Council: $55,000 creating improved spaces at Narooma Library with movable shelving and new furniture.

 

Fairfield City Council: $200,000 to refurbish and upgrade Cabramatta Library and improve technology for the community.

 

Gosford City Council: $181,817 to rebuild Gosford City Library’s public internet infrastructure with additional computers, tablets and a print and reservation management system.

 

Hawkesbury City Council: $129,285 to create a more welcoming Hawkesbury Library space with mobile service desks, a refurbished children’s area and IT enabled spaces.

 

Holroyd City Council: $86,383 to enhance the radio frequency identification capability to shorten client waiting times and free up staff for programs, technical assistance and readers’ advisory services.

 

Kiama Municipal Council: $60,521 to install a Digital Asset Management system to allow Kiama library to store and provide community access to local digital resources, including council minute books, oral histories, videos and images.

 

Kogarah City Council: $136,425 for an improved library layout, reorganised collections, new computers, faster connections to digital content, increased study areas and inviting social spaces.

 

Lismore City Council: $200,000 for installation of radio frequency identification across four LGAs, enabling the introduction of technology assisted readers’ advisory services and improved programs and events.

 

Lithgow City Council: $118,027 for the introduction of new technology, including a touchscreen PC, self-checker, PC booking system and new furniture in the children’s area.

 

Moree Plains Shire Council: $200,000 to create an IT space, quiet study spaces and furniture that allows for flexible use of areas within the library.

 

Newcastle City Council: $200,000 to refurbish and extend Newcastle City Library allowing for a broader range of services to be offered to clients.

 

Orange City Council: $175,000 for the introduction of RFID in libraries in Orange, Cabonne, Blayney, Cowra and Forbes councils, freeing up staff time to provide additional programs and services to their communities.

 

Port Stephens Council: $112,050 for radio frequency identification allowing staff to focus on developing readers’ advisory services, outreach programs, homebound and special needs services and eresources training programs.

 

Queanbeyan City Council: $172,902 to improve outreach to remote communities in Queanbeyan and Palerang council areas through a mobile and ‘pop-up’ service. The library vehicles will provide technology, WiFi, access for people with disabilities and a Home Library Service.

 

Richmond Valley Council: $177,230 for Casino Library redesign to create a modern layout with new shelving and furniture arranged in ‘community living room’ style.

 

Richmond Valley Council: $108,635 for radio frequency identification for Casino, Kyogle and Evans Head libraries, enabling staff to increase their time for direct customer engagement, providing additional programs and events as well as a roving reference service.

 

Shellharbour City Council: $200,000 funding improvement to the Oak Flats library interior with new furniture, foyer and consolidation of floor levels to create more usable and flexible spaces.

 

Tweed Shire Council: $200,000 expansion of Tweed Heads library, creating a physical link to other cultural infrastructure within the community hub. The library will include spaces for quite study, children’s area, comfortable casual seating and events.

Warren Shire Council: $90,553 to refurbish Warren Shire library making the space more user friendly, with new furniture and service desk, technology, a 3D printer and movie screen.

 

Warringah Council: $200,000 for the refurbishment of Dee Why Library, enabling the transition of an iconic 1960s design to a contemporary community living room with the inclusion of new furniture, repurposed spaces and additional seating for individual or group study, meeting areas and programs.

 

Wollongong City Council: $165,385 to assist the library to offer a variety of training programs to residents seeking jobs. Technology and training sessions will be provided.