A vision for future library services adopted

A community-focused library services overhaul has been approved by Ballarat City Council.

Council last night adopted the City of Ballarat Libraries and Learning Strategy 2022- 2027 and the City of Ballarat Libraries and Learning Strategy 2022-2027 Action and Implementation Plan.

The Libraries and Learning Strategy 2022-2027 was developed in consultation with the community and provides a vision for a community focused library service that will plan for Ballarat’s future growth while providing relevant and responsive services. 

Five key strategy priorities that will help Ballarat libraries ‘Reach Out, Branch Out and Stand Out’ include:

1. Engage with the Ballarat community to increase library use and service impact. 
2. Target library services to priority community groups with a focus on literacy, lifelong learning, digital inclusion and wellbeing. 
3. Increase the size, quality and accessibility of the branch library network. 
4. Explore use of alternative models that increase community access to library services. 
5. Model a strategic approach to delivering purposeful and mutually beneficial service partnerships. 

Actions include:

• Creating a new website for City of Ballarat Libraries
• Investigating becoming a UNESCO Learning City
• Doing concept designs and feasibility studies for a new Delacombe Town Centre Library and Community Hub, and the same at Wendouree
• Looking at expanding Eureka Centre library services
• Investigating changing some library opening hours
• Working collaboratively with the Central Highlands Libraries 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said our libraries are highly valued, welcoming and inclusive spaces used by a large portion of the community.

“In the past five years we have loaned 2,768,019 items, welcomed 1,672,781 people, delivered 10,288 programs for 104,693 attendees, and provided 206,272 hours of Wi Fi and computer accessibility,” Cr Moloney said.

“Our libraries encourage connection, participation and celebrate the diverse community that is uniquely Ballarat. 

“Our future libraries will be places that inspire, surprise, and delight the people using them, with a strong focus on fostering lifelong learning and the recognition that our community needs to constantly adapt, evolve, and learn new skills to navigate the enormous amounts of information we have access to in our everyday lives.” 

Cr Moloney said library spaces will grow and become multifunctional, as well as being co-located with other Council areas to provide an integrated service.

Also, outreach library services will expand to the whole of Ballarat through more flexible service delivery models. 

“Our Ballarat library will also be transformed during this strategy period,” Cr Moloney said. 

“The library will be expanded by a further 700sqm and the addition of many more accessible spaces, such as a maker space, bookable meeting rooms, community kitchens and a children’s section that encourages play and participation, will be valuable additions to this flagship building.”