Libraries Celebrate Library Lovers’ Day

Published on 06 February 2018

Move over St Valentine’s because Wednesday 14 February is also Library Lovers’ Day and the Tumut and Tumbarumba Libraries will be celebrating with a community morning tea.

Council’s Coordinator Library Services Kristin Twomey said Library Lovers’ Day is a chance for everyone to reconnect with their local library and share the library love.

“We are encouraging everyone to come along and visit the library, enjoy some cake and reconnect with our services”, Ms Twomey said.

The Library Lovers initiative, coordinated by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), aims to raise the profile of the services which libraries offer.

Ms Twomey said that libraries have evolved into a social space to meet, collaborate, research, learn, share and relax.

“At the library, community groups meet, workshops are taught, new skills are learnt, study groups can meet, games can be played, and technology can be used to create and learn.”

Australia’s public libraries provide quality information services that support lifelong learning, significantly impacting the cultural and information industry.

“Our librarians know how to search online, have access to databases and indexes that wouldn’t be practical to purchase and are familiar with the collection of resources that are available”, Ms Twomey explained

Here are a few facts about libraries in Australia:

• There is one public library service point for every 15,000 people and more than seven out of ten public libraries are open for more than 30 hours per week.
• More than 171 million items were lent to 8.6 million members of Australia’s public libraries and there were more than 112 million customer visits annually that equates to more than 9 million visits per month.
• There are 203 university libraries, used by around one million staff and students every year.
• There are more than 9,000 school libraries and some 12 million people visit our National, State and Territory libraries every year.
• Behind the scenes, 2,000-plus special libraries provide services for business users, lawyers, health professionals, government officials and other information consumers.

Save the date — Wednesday 14 February, come and celebrate the library love with Library staff.

Tumut Library – Community morning tea from 10am

Tumbarumba Library – Community morning tea and Library Lovers’ Storytime from 10.30am

Batlow Library – Library Lovers’ Storytime from 10am

For more information please contact your local Library.