About Victorians Love Libraries
As cost of living pressures continue to rise for many households, Victoria’s public libraries are offering an ever-expanding range of free activities, events and programs for communities to enjoy.
2012 is the National Year of Reading. The MAV and Public Libraries Victoria Network (PLVN) are building on this momentum with Victorians Love Libraries – an initiative to encourage more people in the community to tap into the valuable offerings at their local library and to boost library memberships.
Public libraries – a valuable community asset
Technology
Technology is accessible to everyone: wireless hotspots, free public access computers, e-readers, talking books, iPads and more.
Community hubs
Community hubs host a regular schedule of visiting authors, exhibitions, festivals, meetings, dance, training, consultation sessions and discussion groups.
Learning and literacy
Libraries offer a range of learning and literacy resources including: books and resources; regular activity programs such as book and homework clubs, reading groups, rhyme time, story time and bilingual story time; training sessions and courses for adults looking for work, retraining or returning to the workforce, and seniors who want to understand technology.
Connecting people within their community
Libraries are a warm, inviting place to go and meet others, participate in a special interest group, access multicultural materials and resources for people with print and other disabilities, and home delivery services for those who are housebound
Expert staff
Expert staff offer a wealth of free advice, support and information to help people find items, use computers, undertake research, access e-databases; as well as history experts and specialists who work with children and youth.
Did you know?
Victoria’s public libraries continue to grow and expand, with technology changing how people access and benefit from modern libraries.
As well as continued high number of physical visits and loans, Victorians increasingly use their library remotely with nearly 15 million visits to library websites, including to renew or reserve loan items and to search online databases.
Other interesting facts:
- 2.6 million public library members could fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground more than 25 times.
- For every person who attends the Melbourne Cup Carnival, seven visit their public library – Victorians visit public libraries 28 million times each year.
- One million items are borrowed each week – that’s 52 million items loaned each year.
- With 261 facilities and 26 mobile sites, our public libraries outnumber McDonald’s Restaurants.
- Half of the 8.8 million items in our public library collections were purchased in the past five years.
- Nearly 3.5 million bookings are made to use public access computers – a growth of 65 per cent in the past four years.
- Over the past three years, libraries have expanded their wireless internet access by over 700 per cent.
- 80 per cent of funding is provided by local government and 20 per cent by the Victorian Government.
- It costs just $36 per person per year to provide Victoria’s public library services.
Resources
Victorians Love Libraries resources available for use by councils and their public libraries include, poster templates, colour logo, booklet, web tiles, community service announcement, handouts, case studies, presentation and notes.
To request EPS or TIFF versions of the logo or a broadcast quality version of the small screen community service announcement, email inquiries@mav.asn.au
Launch of Victorians Love Libraries
The Victorians Love Libraries campaign was launched on Monday 19 March at Clayton Library by Minister for Local Government Jeannette Powell and City of Monash Mayor Cr Stefanie Perri.
Left to right: Public Libraries Victoria Network President John Murrell, Felice Arena, Cr Stefanie Perri, Minister Jeanette Powell, MAV President Cr Bill McArthur and Hazel Edwards at the Victorians Love Libraries launch.