The Wagga Wagga City Library is set to receive several timely upgrades thanks to a $76,000 grant from the NSW Government. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Library.
Wagga residents and students are set to reap the benefits of a host of upgrades coming to the Wagga Wagga City Library.
A $76,000 grant awarded to the library from the NSW State Public Library Fund will be used to update the current self-loan stations, purchase additional large-print books and acquire mobile devices to expand the physical and digital collections.
Manager Christine Bolton said the grant would be used to upgrade some of the library’s infrastructure, a move she considered long overdue.
“The $76,000 we received will be used to do a number of things,” she said.
“We’re going to be getting some new self-loan stations, as well as putting some more resources into a couple of the outreach programs that we run.
“One of the services that will receive some upgrades is the Homes and Hospitals service we provide. We will be buying new books and audio material to go into a collection that visits eight retirement villages and homes around Wagga.
“We’re also going to be trialling a digital service with our Home Library Service, which is to introduce home library patrons to digital collections.”
In addition to improving and growing its services, the library will be looking to update its electronic features by purchasing new tablets for people to borrow.
“We’ll have volunteers that will be able to teach our customers, our members, how to use those digital products,” Ms Bolton said.
“It’ll be a try-and-buy type of arrangement where those members of our library will be able to see whether or not they are happy using a digital tablet and reading online. If so, they’ll be able to buy their own devices.”
Ms Bolton said the library upgrades were a step in the right direction towards providing suitable and informative spaces for an ageing demographic that used the venue’s services.
“The library’s facility is still really well used,” she said.
“We regularly have every desk and every table occupied with people doing their own thing. Kids and students come in and do their homework, people enjoy the quiet space, while some just like using the free Wi-Fi.
“The way people are using the library is changing, but it still remains a very active and important space for our community.”
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