Next chapter for Wollongong City Libraries

Did you know 40 per cent of the people who call Wollongong home, or some 87,889 people, are active members of Wollongong City Libraries?

This is higher than the national average of 32.4 per cent, and means there are a significant number of people in our city who may be interested to comment on an updated draft strategy that sets out the future focusses and direction of the city’s libraries.

The document will be on public exhibition from tomorrow, 28 November, for community feedback following tonight’s Council meeting where the role of libraries was the focus of discussions.

“Gone are the days when libraries are quiet places for study and reading and librarians saying ‘shhhhhh’ to anyone talking above a whisper,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“Come into one of the city’s seven libraries now and you’re just as likely to see toddlers singing and dancing in a dedicated kids’ space, hear from an expert about cyber security at a public talk or have a go at a Gingerbread House making workshop.

“Yes, libraries still have an important function as a place of learning and study, but they’re increasingly focussed on offering opportunities for social connection, building capability and learning in areas beyond traditional secondary and tertiary education, and being a meeting place.”

The Discover, Learn and Connect Wollongong City Libraries Strategy 2024-2028 builds on the work undertaken in previous strategic planning documents. It draws upon data from a range of sources including a 2021 survey of library members, the 2022 Wollongong Learning City community engagement and a phase of community engagement in mid-2023.

The document’s vision is that Wollongong’s libraries are “the heart of our community where everyone can discover, learn and connect”. It focusses on emerging community needs, while continuing the Libraries’ commitment to continue to offer services and programs that meet the needs of children, young people and older people.

“We need to ensure our libraries are inclusive of our whole community, and we need to acknowledge that what might have been a priority 20 years ago, may be a little different now,” Cr Bradbery said.

“The purpose of this document is to set out the principals of what we think our community has told us it needs over the next five years, and then we can take steps to ensure that this is implemented.

“We want our libraries to be place of safe, inclusive enjoyment and enlightenment and we need you to help us to make it happen.”

While the needs of current users, like children and older people, will continue to be a focus, the library’ planning will also prioritise the needs of other groups in our community like First Nations residents, those who are LGBTQIA+ or who are members of our culturally diverse groups. The goals include partnering with community organisations to deliver co-designed and co-delivered programming, to increase content and visibility of our city’s diversity on promotional materials and the library’s website and to grow membership, visitation, and satisfaction with library programs.

“This is very much a contemporary document and one that helps the libraries adapt to the changing needs of our community,” Cr Bradbery said.

“It’s about people and making sure our libraries are offering what they need, when they need it, and that they’re providing opportunities for social engagement. It’s also about making sure our collection is sustainable in the ways it’s managed and making sure we’re moving with modern technology.”

The draft Discover, learn, and connect Wollongong City Libraries Strategy 2024-2028 will be on public exhibition for 14 days on Council’s website.

Fast stats from Wollongong City Libraries

• Some 40 per cent of the city’s population, or 87,889 people, are library members. This is higher than the national average of 32.4 per cent.
• Our libraries are in seven locations across the city.
• There are 407,283 books, DVDs and the like in the library’s physical collection.
• In 2022-2023, there were 977,178 physical items borrowed and 316,924 digital items loaned.
• 6,040 people use the Wollongong City Libraries app
• In 2022+2023 there were 2784 programs delivered in the libraries
• We’ve 199 home Library Service Customers