It’s official – Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council ratepayers love their libraries.
A report released this week by the Riverina Regional Library (RRL) indicates CGRC’s two libraries, in Cootamundra and Gundagai, are amongst the leaders in the Riverina on both the quality and utilisation of their collections.
With 22 RRL branches stretching from Temora in the north to Barooga on the Murray River in the south, Cootamundra and Gundagai are enjoying the greatest enthusiasm from local borrowers. Cootamundra has recorded a 6% increase in items being borrowed and Gundagai a whopping 22% increase since 2023, bucking a regional trend of a 22% average decrease in collection utilisation. Cootamundra too, has recorded a 4.6% increase in items being borrowed more than 30 times (region average 2%), indicating the relevance and popularity of local library items, which includes print books, magazines, DVDs, and electronic books and audio. While the generalised decrease in collection utilisation across the Riverina in 2024 was influenced by the recent addition of 4 small south-western NSW libraries to the service.
CGRC Manager of Business Linda Wiles has nonetheless praised the commitment of local library staff to providing a relevant and engaging collection to the community.
“The RRL report shows that our libraries are well utilised, engaging and have extensive collections that are relevant to the needs of our library patrons. The report reflections show that our libraries are supplying patrons with what they want and are very responsive in meeting a changing landscape in library services.
The typical library mode has changed drastically from being a place to borrow books, they offer so many other free services in addition to the physical collection, including social groups, literary and cultural events, technology help, and after-school clubs,” Ms Wiles said.
And with school holidays just around the corner, our local libraries are the perfect place for parents looking for a creative outlet for their children, with plenty of craft, competitions, Lego challenges, and karaoke on offer. For more information or bookings, contact the Gundagai Library (69 440 270) or Cootamundra Library (69 40 22 00) or find them on Facebook.
Picture and caption:
Cootamundra and Gundagai libraries are among the healthiest in the Riverina according to a recent report. Adaline and Hannah Rains are pictured enjoying some of the many free resources our libraries offer the community.
