Council will be hosting pop-up sessions at the Stawell and St Arnaud Libraries to discuss with community members the upcoming changes to the libraries’ management structures.
Northern Grampians Shire Council will take over operation of the Stawell and St Arnaud libraries at the end of the financial year as part of a service review.
The review showed council is able to provide the same services and programs currently on offer at the libraries while saving on overhead costs associated with the current operational structure.
Northern Grampians Shire Council CEO, Liana Thompson, said the decision to integrate the libraries into council’s operations was not made at the expense of Wimmera Regional Library Corporation.
“The Wimmera Regional Library Corporation has done a fine job running the Stawell and St Arnaud libraries for the last 26 years,” she said.
“But, following the review, council has determined we can achieve positive outcomes for council and community if the library services are consolidated alongside our other operations.”
“I want to be clear there are no plans to change the faces or programs of the libraries but to take those services and align them more closely with council’s existing services and programs to create a unified and holistic library experience.”
Council and library staff will come together to host pop-up information sessions as part of the Stawell library 40-year celebrations.
On Saturday 14 March, the Stawell Library celebrates 40 years at its present site serving the Stawell and district community.
On Thursday 12 March, the library will celebrate with morning tea from 10am to 12pm where council staff will be available to answer questions from the community about the future of the libraries as part of council’s services.
Staff members will then host another pop-up information session at the St Arnaud Library on Thursday 19 March from 10am to 12pm.
Council has also launched an online survey to hear from the community about what you want from the libraries in the future.
The results from the survey will give council an understanding of what people want from the libraries and how council can best deliver services to the community.
The survey can be filled out online or hard copies can be collected from the Stawell and St Arnaud Libraries.
