Online boost for regional readers

Updating the online capabilities of rural libraries would ensure their ongoing relevance to regional communities, Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said in Cloncurry today.

Speaking at the launch of the Rural Libraries Queensland (RLQ) expansion of its online catalogue facility, Mr Crisafulli said better online services would keep rural libraries from Barcaldine to Weipa as a cornerstone of regional Queenslanders’ sense of community.

“Reading has always played an important part of life in the bush, and this move to ensure country readers have 24/7 access to books, audio books, DVDs, music and all the other resources libraries shows that technology plays a central role in delivering services that regional Queenslanders need,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Technology will also be a way of overcoming resourcing issues that come from small populations and the tyranny of distance.

“Access to State Library e-resources shows that it doesn’t matter if you’re in Cloncurry or Brisbane, technology can give you better access to information than has been possible before.

“It’s so important for people to have access to the benefits that libraries offer their city members.

“Physical isolation is a fact of life out here, but upgrades such as this one show that it no longer means poor access to the latest information and cultural resources.”

Mr Crisafulli also launched the RLQ Tourist Card, which will allow people touring the bush to borrow a book in one library and return it to another.

“Drive tourists are a vital part of rural and regional economies and anything that makes it a better trip for tourists, such as picking up a book or DVD in Winton and returning it in Cooktown, is a big tick for regional Queensland,” he said.

RLQ, formerly known as The Country Lending Service, is a collaboration between Queensland local governments and the State Library of Queensland. Regional councils with populations under 15,000 are eligible to join RLQ. 

The RLQ network covers 73 percent of Queensland’s land mass, and provides services to more than 100,000 people.

[ENDS] 27 March 2013

Media contact: Monica Rostron 0409 126 332