All smiles with additional funding, Inverell Shire Library staff members Camille Arca, left, Helen Elliot, Director Corporate and Economic Services Scott Norman, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Deputy Mayor Anthony Michael, Library Services Manager Sonya Lange and staff Maria Mutimer and Deborah Simpson.
Thursday, 26 April 2018
INVERELL Shire Library has received vital funding to boost its technological and digital capacity, successfully securing $54,895 as part of the NSW Government’s Public Library Infrastructure Grants program.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall visited the library earlier this week to make the announcement with Deputy Mayor Anthony Michael, Library Services Manager Sonya Lange and library staff.
“This funding is critical to ensuring that Inverell Shire Library can continue to provide the services of the future to the local community,” Mr Marshall said.
“Currently, members of the public have to be physically in the library to explore the expansive collections and whether items are available to be borrowed.
“This funding will enhance Inverell libraries digital capabilities allowing library users to access the collection and services remotely, from their home or from new remote computer access points in Delungra and Yetman, for the very first time.
“The project also includes the complete digitisation of the extensive collection of local history resources, with the local history room at the library also being doubled in size.
“Our local history is important to telling the story of Inverell and much of it is fragile and quite precious, either being first-hand accounts not replicated elsewhere or books and photos that will slowly disintegrate over time.
“Digitising the local history means that it will be fully backed-up, more readily accessible to historians or curious locals, and preserved permanently.
“This puts Inverell Shire Library on par with the State and National Libraries who are constantly working to digitise their historical files and will continue to make the Library a hub for the Inverell and the surrounding communities.
“I commend library staff for running what is one of the best regional libraries in NSW and also congratulate Inverell Shire Council for recognising what an important asset the library is and supporting its transition into a modern facility.”
Library Services Manager Sonya Lange said her staff were thrilled to secure the funding to modernise library systems.
“This is an amazing opportunity for us, not only because it will increase efficiencies for staff but it means a greatly improved customer experience, especially in how people will be able to interact more with the catalogue,” Mrs Lange said.
“I’m also excited about the digitising of our local history and the fact we can improve our services in services to Delungra and Yetman, bringing them on par with the service we provide to Ashford.
“The new management system will make it much easier to interact with catalogue and make requests. We can send out books, which are then returned to our deposit stations.”