More new books, better access to technology and a wider range of services are among the benefits to library users of a new model for the Ballarat region’s library services unveiled this week.
City of Ballarat chief executive officer Anthony Schinck yesterday (Monday 14/2) provided a meeting of the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation Board with Council’s vision of library services of the future and called on the other member library councils to join with Ballarat.
The meeting, which included representatives from each of the corporation’s seven member councils, Moorabool, Pyrenees, Central Goldfields, Ararat City, Hepburn, Southern Grampians and Ballarat, heard how a proposed shared services model would work.
In June last year, the City of Ballarat resolved to withdraw from the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation from 1 July 2011.
City of Ballarat People and Communities Portfolio Councillor Mark Harris said Council recognised library services needed to grow in line with planned population growth and had developed a vision to support long term growth.
He said Ballarat’s current library services cannot keep pace with changing community needs and the aspirations of an emerging regional capital.
“Compared to best practice examples, our libraries lack flexibility, technology, facilities and resources,” Cr Harris said.
Under the shared services model, City of Ballarat would be fully responsible for library services to the three Ballarat libraries and offers to act as a service provider in agreed key areas to other regional councils.
The proposal assumes regional councils will provide their own library staff.
Council’s decision to withdraw from the CHRLC was prompted by concerns about the financial sustainability of the corporation, the age and state of the library collection and the corporation’s administration burden.
The new management model will enable libraries to focus on newer, more relevant books and publications and enhancing multi-media and new technology at local libraries.
City of Ballarat has offered to continue to operate libraries in line with the 2011/12 service level agreements of the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation.
Council will also talk to residents to better understand what they want from their library services into the future.
The community consultation will commence before the end of April.
Any savings through the City of Ballarat’s provision of corporate services, such as financial management, human resources and payroll, will be contributed to improving the book collection.
A shared services model for the next 10 years would be adopted once agreed to by interested regional councils.
The current mobile library service would be continued until a review can be completed.
The Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation was formed in 1997 with six member Councils: Ararat, Ballarat, Central Goldfields, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees Councils. Southern Grampians Council joined in July 2006.
The City of Ballarat is home to three branch libraries: Ballarat Central, 178 Doveton St Nth: 181 Albert St, Sebastopol; and Stockland Shopping Centre, corner Gillies St and Norman St, Wendouree.