New library hours benefit Outreach program

Published on 24 August 2018

Indigenous kids spent an afternoon learning with Council staff last week as part of the Broken Hill City Library's Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics (STEAM) Outreach program.

Kids at Community Hub 123 enjoyed a range of learning activities involving robotics, electronics and programming during a one-hour session with two library staff members from 4pm Tuesday.

Council's General Manager, James Roncon, said the program was made possible by the change in library hours.

"One of the strategic aims of the library is to reach audiences who are under-represented in library usage, and give them access to our services," he said.

"Programs like STEAM Outreach help promote life-long learning, and offer opportunities to those who may not have otherwise benefited from what the library has to offer.

"If our Library staff had been working at the front counter until 6pm on Tuesday night, we'd never have had the chance to run a program like this.

"We only have a certain number of staff, and the reduction in opening hours provides them with time away from the front counter to complete vital strategic planning and delivery of programs that were not possible when the library was open for 52 hours a week."

Mr Roncon said Broken Hill wasn't the only Council in NSW struggling to balance its Library's workload against available resources.

"The Renew Our Libraries campaign which was recently supported by Council shows that this problem is State-wide, it's not unique to Broken Hill.

"The State Government contributes just 7.8% toward the costs of running Libraries across NSW which puts increased financial pressure on Councils, and we're not immune to that.

"We'd love to be able to hire more staff, keep the library open longer, run more programs, and provide more resources, but the funding just isn't there."

Those seeking further information on the Renew Our Libraries program are encouraged to visit http://renewourlibraries.com.au/

Council will review the currently reduced Library hours in six months.