Claire Campbell is looking forward to introducing Wagga to the new library services. Photo: Chris Roe.
Changes are on the way for Wagga Wagga City Library and manager Claire Campbell says it’s all about making services more accessible.
“We listened to the community and we really needed to see what we could do about making the service much better for people,” she says.
Ms Campbell says the plans for change were based on extensive community consultation.
“People absolutely loved the library, the collections and the programs,” she explains.
“But they were also very clear in their messages to us that the city was expanding and how sometimes it was hard to get to the library.
“So there were things about the physical space, the opening hours and also getting services out to where people live.”
Di Pomeroy, Avery and Leo return their books before heading inside for storytime. Photo: Chris Roe.
From next month, the library will open seven days a week, there are five different community spaces that people can book and they are also hitting the road with a new “Agile Library Service”.
A matching pair of custom-designed library vans will deliver books, DVDs and programs to the suburbs and villages in the LGA.
Ms Campbell says the fit-out of the vans will be completed in the next few weeks.
“We’ll get people to ring us to say I live at Village ‘X’ and I’d like to read these books, and we’ll bring them out to you,” she says.
A new website was launched this week and will feature all the details of the Agile Library timetable.
Wagga’s Agile Library Service vans will be rolled out in July 2022. Photo: Wagga City Council.
With the changes poised for rollout, current members are being encouraged to pick up their new-look library cards.
“If you are someone who just likes to borrow books off the shelf, you don’t need to come in today because that card will keep working for a few weeks,” Ms Campbell says.
“But if you’re someone who likes to download books, you really need to come in and we’ll give you the new card.”
New library cards are available now with five designs to choose from. Photo: Chris Roe.
There’s also an expanded children’s area that will soon be unveiled.
“It will be twice as large as it used to be so people won’t have to be squashed up in there with their prams – so lots of room for everyone,” Ms Campbell says.
Looking ahead to the next few weeks, the Library will be on the road for the July winter school holidays with a free kids program called “Build!”.
“It’s big blocks and small blocks and it’s a session where kids can come along and also the parents could chat with the staff and join the library as well,” Ms Campbell says.
All the information is available on Wagga Wagga City’s brand new website.
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