Library Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2026 adopted August 2022


THE FUTURE OF OUR LIBRARIES

Council's Murrindindi Library Service is turning the page, with a brand-new draft Library Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2026 and now is your opportunity to provide feedback.

The draft Strategy contains lots of great ideas about things we can do to make our library service even better, and we are excited to share these ideas with our community to see what you think.

Some of the ideas in the draft Strategy can be implemented quickly and with minimal cost; others will require more time, more thinking and additional budget – either from Council or from the Victorian Government. We will work through this as part of the implementation phase once the draft Strategy has been adopted.

The draft Library Service Strategy and Action Plan is available in the Exhibition Documents section. Community members are invited to provide feedback on the draft. Submissions close on Sunday 17 July 2022.

Background

Planning is important to ensure that services meet the needs and expectations of our communities. The Murrindindi Library Service Strategy 2022-2026 will establish the vision for the Murrindindi Library Service for 2022-2026, and set out an Action Plan to take us forward and support the Council Plan.


Council's Murrindindi Library Service (MLS) operates three library branches (in Alexandra, Yea and Kinglake), and a mobile library service which travels to eight locations across the Shire.

MLS provide people with free access to a wide range of books, audiobooks, ebooks, DVDsas well as access to free Wi-Fi and public computers, and a variety of programs, events, activities and talks.

In 2020-2021, the Murrindindi Library Service

  • welcomed 10,141 visitors to branch libraries and the mobile
  • issued 49,804 loans to people
  • hosted 1,359 program attendees
  • maintained a collection of 71,870 items
  • introduced a Book Butler service
  • provided a fabulous service to our 5285 members

And so much more!

For more information about locations and opening hours, including the Mobile service timetable, click here.

You can also search the library catalogue for material to borrow and current events we are hosting.

Stage 1

What does the next page for your local library look like? That’s the question Murrindindi Shire Council is asking the community, to help us develop our Library Strategy and Action Plan for the next four years. Whether you visit the library a few times a week or haven’t ever stepped into a library – we want to hear from you!

Council is inviting all residents to get involved and share what you love about your library, as well as any new ideas for services or new ways the library can meet your needs.

The feedback received from the community will be used to help inform the development of the draft Murrindindi Library Service Strategy 2022-2026. The draft will be made available for public comment in July this year, before going to Council for adoption.


How to get involved

There are three ways you can get involved in the project. Click on the tiles below for more information.

Share Your Ideas

In planning for the future of the Murrindindi Library Service, we are open to new ideas! And that means we are looking for your suggestions as to how the library can best serve the Murrindindi Shire community. Think big!

If you have a picture, website link or video, please feel free to upload it.

To support your experience, this page will be moderated. Ideas that are offensive, abusive, or are not about your library will be removed.

Explore other people’s suggestions on the ‘Library Ideas Wall’ below and add your own ideas.

Click here for inspiration and to see what other libraries are doing.

Previous engagement

Thank you to those community members who participated

Between 6 and 27 May, people across the Shire have participated in this process, by completing a survey, talking to us at community pop-ups or in the libraries, or sharing ideas on an online board. All of this helps us shape the development of the draft Murrindindi Library Service Strategy 2022-2026. We are currently reviewing the information and feedback received. The draft will be made available for public exhibition and comment in July this year, before going to Council for adoption.

  • Over 370 visits to the project

    • 260 visitors
    • 222 contributions made

  • Contributions

    • 174 Surveys
    • 25 people expressed interest in Focus Groups
    • 16 contributions to the Ideas Wall

  • Library/services

    • 37% Alexandra
    • 25% from Yea
    • 18% from Kinglake
    • 17% mobile
    • 2% online services

Stage 2

How to get involved

Council is now inviting feedback. You can respond in the following ways:

  • Complete an online submission (see below)
  • Submit via email (details below)
  • Call our Customer Contact Centre on 5772 0333


The community exhibition period closes on Sunday 17 July 2022.

Email
Written comments can be emailed to cramsden@murrindindi.vic.gov.au

Please ensure that you clearly state your full name, contact details and address.

Supply of personal information: The supply of personal information by you is voluntary. The intended recipients of any submissions, including your personal information are Councillors and officers within Council. Please note that your submission may be made public as it may form part of a public report. Further information is provided in the Murrindindi Shire Council’s Privacy Statement.