The woman behind the transformation of Mount Gambier’s library into a vibrant community hub has been named one of South Australia’s top achievers in the 2011 Telstra South Australian Business Women’s Awards.
Determined to change the perception of libraries as staid and straight laced, Cathryn Harris convinced Mount Gambier City Council to invest $10 million in the facility six years ago.
She pushed for a community lounge and coffee shop, introduced children’s programs and the latest technology to alleviate youth boredom, and implemented a self-checkout system so librarians could focus on engaging visitors and running activities.
Cathryn Harris said libraries are the building blocks of a strong community.
“No longer places where everyone has to be quiet, they are busy information centres that focus on customers and offer a place to meet friends for coffee, use the Internet and, of course, find the latest thriller.”
Mount Gambier Library now attracts more than 40,000 visitors every month – up 400 per cent from 2005 – and non fiction loans have increased 300 per cent, despite most libraries seeing a decline due to the increasing popularity of e books.
Catherine Harris’ vision was recognised today when she won the Nokia Business Innovation category at the Telstra SA Business Women’s Awards in Adelaide.
Kelly Baker Jamieson, founder and Managing Director of Adelaide-based edible bouquet retailer Edible Blooms, was named Telstra South Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Other Award winners were Fiona Godfrey, Principal of St Peters’ Collegiate Girls School at Stonyfell and Theressa Hines, Global Director for Environment, Health and Safety for home appliance giant Electrolux.
Mark Bolton, Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager SA South, said Telstra has run the Business Women’s Awards program for 17 years to celebrate the achievements of extraordinary women and serve as an inspiration for others.
“The Awards judges were impressed with Cathryn Harris’s leadership in the development of the library into an outstanding and innovative community asset,” he said.
“Patronage has dramatically outstripped all expectations and the library’s transformation is attracting national and international attention and is acknowledged as a new benchmark.”
Nokia Australia’s managing director Chris Carr congratulated Cathryn Harris on winning this coveted award.
“I hope that her story will act as an inspiration to others,” he said.
The South Australian winners proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards which will be announced in Melbourne on 18 November.
