Central West Libraries is collecting donations of books and materials for Lismore City Library and other libraries in the Richmond Tweed region affected by the devastating floods last month.
It is estimated more than 30,000 items were destroyed when the bottom two floors of Lismore City Library were flooded. Libraries across the Richmond Tweed region were also affected, with an unknown amount of on-loan items destroyed in flooded homes.
Collections affected by the flood were adult fiction, large-print books, junior non-fiction, junior and young adult books, children’s storybooks and non-fiction books on parenting, as well as jigsaw
puzzles, audiobooks and children’s DVDs.
RECOVERY: Orange City Library Local Services Librarian Julie Sykes with children’s books donated for Lismore Library.
Donated items must be new or in near-new condition and can be dropped off to any Central West Libraries branch in Orange, Molong, Canowindra, Cowra, Manildra, Blayney or Forbes.
People wishing to donate money can make a tax-deductible donation directly to the Richmond Tweed Regional Library network to purchase suitable items when the time is right. Central West Libraries will not accept monetary donations.
Orange Mayor Jason Hamling said many people were looking for ways to help the flood-affected communities.
“The heartbreaking images of piles of destroyed books and furniture being thrown out the window at Lismore City Library really brought home the extent of the damage to the library’s collection, not to mention the damage to the building itself,” Cr Hamling said.
“While the rebuilding effort will take a long time, this is a small way we can help them get back on their feet, either through donations of books or financial donations.”
People wishing to donate money should visit the Richmond Tweed Regional Library website https://rtrl.nsw.gov.au/ to find out how to make a tax-deductible monetary donation.
Funds raised will go towards replacing stock across the Richmond Tweed Regional Library network.
