In the spirit of giving, the City of Ballarat’s Library Services is having an amnesty on library fines from December 1 to 24, 2011.
If you’ve been putting off visiting the Ballarat, Wendouree or Sebastopol libraries because of outstanding library fines, then now is the perfect time to revisit and stock up on some great holiday reading.
Throughout the month of December call into one of Ballarat’s three libraries and have your library fine waived, regardless of the amount owing, no questions asked.
City of Ballarat’s Portfolio Councillor for People and Communities Mark Harris says that Council understands that outstanding library fines may be one of the reasons members of the community haven’t visited a library in some time.
"This fine amnesty is really exciting for the Ballarat community. Whilst removing an outstanding fine may offer some financial relief at a busy time of year, it may also be reason enough for people to consider revisiting one of our libraries.”
“December is a time when kids are home from school so it’s an ideal time for families to come inside, get out of the summer heat and experience the range of programs and services on offer over the school holiday period.”
The fine amnesty is also an opportunity for Council to get those library books that might be sitting in bookshelves at home back on the library shelves. If members of the community have outstanding library items, these need to be returned in order to have fines waived. If they don’t have any items at home, but have a fine sitting on their library card, then they too can come on in and start a fresh.
Ballarat’s three libraries are available to the public and offer some rewarding programs such as baby rhyme time and pre-school story time. Each library also offers free Wi-Fi service and a great range of books, movies and DVD’s.
When Ballarat residents revisit a library this December, they are encouraged to pick up a brochure on the activities taking place during the school holidays.
Libraries are great spaces to bring your family, catch up with friends or just have a bit of quiet time to select your next great read. Ballarat’s Libraries are located in the following places:
- Ballarat Library - 178 Doveton Street North, Ballarat
- Wendouree Library – Stockland Shopping Centre, Wendouree
- Sebastopol Library – Albert Street, Sebastopol