Study Visit 5 - Toowoomba City Library

This has been my favourite study visit so far. During the visit, I was introduced to a number of friendly staff members who each told me about their role in the library, ranging from cataloguing to offering special thematic activities to disabled people. 'From cradle to grave' is their policy, so their aim is to increase their membership so that they are reaching every member of the Toowoomba regional community.  They currently run at about 25% membership, but are aiming to reach 100% of the community in the coming year. Dreaming large!

Accessibility for the whole community is a priority for this library. Everyone is made to feel welcome, even the regular homeless people who pop in during the cold weather. The range of free services the library provides to the community is very impressive.  For example, they send books out to nursing homes on a monthly rotation, post resources to home-bound individuals, offer English lessons to immigrants and refugees, teach Internet classes and run storytime sessions for preschoolers and home-schooled children. The list goes on.

They believe that it's not all about the books - it's more about enhancing the community's well-being. If I could get a job in a library like this, which seriously tries to make links with the community, I would be one very happy camper. It makes my primary school library look very one-dimensional in its private school setting.