The Richmond Tweed Regional Library 2010/11 Annual Report details another year of growth for the regional library service with more than one million people passing through the doors of the various regional libraries over the period and a 16 per cent increase in membership.
Richmond Tweed Regional Library (RTRL) Manager, Jo Carmody, said she was pleased with the growth and also delighted with the uptake of newly introduced eResources.
“It has been an exciting period as we have introduced new and convenient ways to access library services via the ‘virtual branch’ we have developed on our RTRL website, and the level of use as well as the community feedback indicates these services have been welcomed,” Ms Carmody said.
“Our aim is to provide a contemporary library service that continues to deliver core traditional services to communities across the region, while also exploring all of the opportunities that online platforms represent in terms of wider accessibility, innovation and convenience.
“This year witnessed many highlights right across all of our 12 branches, our genealogy centre and the mobile library, including continued support of the ‘10-minute a day’ program for parents and regular talks where guest speakers spoke on issues such as financial and legal advice.
“The Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah libraries art programs have been particularly popular, as was a visit from Jetstar Gold Coast Titans where parents, teenagers and young people came together to participate in the Rugby League Reads, One Community’ program.
“The highly successful Human Library at Lismore celebrated its fourth anniversary and continues to be of great value to the community, with outreach visits to aged care facilities and schools being particularly popular.
“Another major highlight was of course the opening of the new Lennox Head Public Library, the Lennox community and surrounding areas are certainly enjoying their new library with usage statistics doubling for the same period from previous years.
“We are also looking forward to further progress with the planned new library building at Byron Bay. That project has moved a step closer with the announcement of a State Library Development Grant which meant tenders and building work could commence.
“The RTRL continued to inspire children and young people through the regional library programs, where life-long learning is encouraged for young people by sharing the joy of reading with children.
“The preschool story time sessions continue to be popular, while building our HSC information support resources, inlcuding online tutors, has also been a focus throughout the year.
“During 2010/11 staff from RTRL attended many outreach programs for community events ranging from the Teddy Bears Picnic Child Protection Week, ‘Belly to Big School’, Aboriginal Community Information Days, World Environment Day Expo and the Lismore Show. RTRL also hosted a range of displays and exhibitions throughout the region.
“All of these programs provide staff with the opportunity to keep in touch with the community and therefore tailor services to meet their needs while spreading the value of libraries, literacy and learning.
“I would like to congratulate all of the RTRL teams for delivering outstanding service throughout the year and we look forward to continuing to deliver our expanding range of services throughout 2011/12.”
The Richmond Tweed Regional Library 2010/11 Annual Report and the 2010/11 Special Purpose Financial Reports as well as access to RTRL ‘virtual branch’ are available online at www.rtrl.nsw.gov.au
