INCREASED FUNDING FOR QUEENSLAND’S PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Queensland’s public libraries will share in a record $19.1 million to provide new books and library services across the state, Arts Minister Rod Welford said today.

Mr Welford said the Government had increased funds for the Library Board of Queensland’s Public Library Grants by more than $390,000 for 2006-07.

“With these grants our Government, in partnership with local governments, will provide more services for library users in regional, rural and remote Queensland,” Mr Welford said.

“All library services in Queensland will receive extra funding this year due to an increase in Queensland’s population.

“The library grants are provided on a per capita basis, weighted to ensure smaller local governments are not disadvantaged.”

The majority of the funding ($15.1 million) will go to the state’s local libraries, allowing local governments to buy resources for their collections.

Funding is also allocated to provide library services in small population centres, provide books in Languages Other Than English, Indigenous library services and to help libraries find ways to improve community access to their services.

State Librarian Lea Giles-Peters said the State Library of Queensland also champions a number of initiatives and projects to deliver new library services, enhance existing services and provide greater access to the collections across Queensland.

“Since 1997 the Online Public Access in Libraries (OPAL) program, funded by the Queensland Government and managed by the State Library, has contributed $5.66 million to develop online content and foster ‘information rich’ communities,” Ms Giles-Peters said.

“This includes assisting local governments with the provision of Internet access in libraries, making the State Library’s collections available online, hosting a free website service for communities and online training for public librarians.”

The State Library supports a network of 334 library service points in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote Queensland, operated by local governments and Indigenous councils.

Queenslanders make more than 17 million visits to these libraries each year which have a membership of 1.9 million people – more than one in every two Queenslanders.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985

Public Library Grants Scheme 2006-2007

The Public Library Grants Scheme provides cash grants to local governments operating independent library services. These grant payments are detailed below: