Record funding benefits library service

Libraries are not only a space for books and the boost to funding will help resource many of the programs offered.

The Yass Valley Library Service is set to benefit from a record boost in funding, with the State Government delivering $36.5 million in funding to New South Wales (NSW) public libraries in 2019/20.

The significant increase announced as part of the NSW State Budget in 2019, will see a total of $60 million in additional Government funding going to public libraries over four years.

The funding announcement means Yass Valley Library will benefit from an extra $34,288, increasing from $63,458 in 2018/19 to $97,747 in 2019/20.

Yass Valley Library Coordinator, Kimberly Hughes said the funding increases will make a huge difference in helping the library to better meet the growing demands of the Yass Valley Community.

“The Library isn’t just a space for books anymore, we offer some really great programs and activities and this funding will help us to continue delivering theses resources to our community.”

In addition to the public library funding increase, the Budget allocates $500,000 per annum ($2 million over four years) to the State Library for Vision Australia to enable the provision of expanded services and a greater selection of audio and braille books to the 126,000 people who are blind or have low vision in NSW.