Annual Report 2017-2018

Lego Fun 954 95

2,291 Library Visits Library
Loans Members
3,754

Collection Items

Talbingo Library Snowy Valleys Council Opening Hours:
Lampe Street Network of Libraries Tuesday 9:00am - 5:00pm

TALBINGO NSW 2720 Adelong (closed for lunch
02 6949 5344 Batlow 12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Talbingo
Tumbarumba 49
Tumut

Temora

Wrap With Love
The Wrap with Love project started in 1992 with the mission of helping as many people as possible around
the world by giving them a blanket to ward off the cold. Beautiful handmade wraps are lovingly crafted by
volunteers throughout Australia. Each blanket goes to an individual in need and offers not only protection
from the cold but also love from another. More than 414,000 blankets, knitted or crocheted and sewn
together by Australian women, men and children, have been sent to people in over 75 countries, including
Australia. Ladies met on the first and third Thursday of the month at Temora Library to knit and enjoy a
cuppa and a chat.
Author Visits
Two author visits were hosted by the library this year. Scott Whitaker, author of Railway Hotels of Australia:
New South Wales, entralled the audience with his wealth of information on the history of railways and hotels
that trade or once traded in New South Wales. Noel Braun, author of The Day Was Made for Walking, spoke
about his journey through the Camino, the ancient pilgrimage route that leads across France and Spain.
School Holiday Programs
The Temora Library hosted a range of school holiday programs throughout the year including, Spinners,
No Sew Caterpillars, Christmas Capers and Recycled Art. All programs were very well attended.
Eileen England
Librarian in Charge
Temora Library

Christmas Capers

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Wrap With Love 22,783 1,298
Library
24,048 Library Visits Members
Loans
13,322

Collection Items

Temora Library Opening Hours:
294 Hoskins Street Monday - Friday
TEMORA NSW 2666 10:00am - 5:30pm

02 6977 1781 Saturday
10:00am -12:00pm

51

Tumbarumba

School Holiday Programs
School holiday programs attendance has increased at Tumbarumba Library. Programs for this year included
Christmas Craft, Paper Flowers, Tweet Treats and Step by Step Drawing - just to name a few. The Fairy Wand
and Tiaras program was a huge success with the library bursting with tulle and ribbons. Parents had to
work closely with their children as the craft was quite involved. Children enjoyed a picnic on the deck after
decorating a fairy cake while library staff set up a photo booth for children and their parents.
Community Reading Day
The Community Reading Day held during March at the Tumbarumba Library and surrounding Bicentennial
Gardens, celebrated its 15th annual event. The schools in Tumbarumba, Rosewood, Khancoban and Humula
were invited to attend the event along with Carcoola Children’s Centre and the Tumbarumba Playgroup.
This year’s theme was celebration, and all books and activities coincided with the selected theme. Each year
Rotary and the Lions Club supports the event by cooking a BBQ lunch. The event provides an opportunity
for the small schools in the area to come together with other children their own age and to promote literacy
in the community.
Friends of Tumbarumba Library
Friends of Tumbarumba Library (FOTL)have been busy this year with a variety of fundraising activities and
events. The yearly reading challenge was well received in the community and this year the FOTL held a
summer reading challenge for children of various ages and reading ability. At the conclusion, FOTL held a
party for participants. The Tumbarumba Tastebuds weekend provided an opportunity to raise funds at one
of the open gardens, boosting the funds and reputation of the committee. A Barefoot Bowls fundraising
event was held at the local bowling club next to the Library - a thoroughly enjoyable event for families. Each
year the FOTL provides financial support by way of a Library Award to the local schools at Tumbarumba,
Rosewood and Khancoban for their annual presentation evenings. The awards are given to students in
recognition for literacy achievements.
Vicki Hulm
Library Team Leader
Tumbarumba Library

Friends of the Library Presentation

52

21,590 Fairies and Tiaras

Library Visits 824

Library
Members

16,623 7,399
Loans
Collection Items

Tumbarumba Library Snowy Valleys Council Winter Opening Hours:
Prince Street Network of Libraries Monday 2:00pm - 5:00pm
TUMBARUMBA Tuesday 1:00pm - 5:00pm
NSW 2653 Adelong
02 6948 2725 Batlow Wednesday - Friday
Talbingo 10:00am - 5:00pm
Tumbarumba (closed for lunch
Tumut 1:30pm - 2:00pm)

Saturday
10:00am -12:00pm

53

Tumut

Cooks, Books and Produce
The Cooks, Books and Produce evening showcased the library as an integral community hub and provided
an alternative event that would draw people in who may have lost touch with the library. The library was
transformed into a farmers market, showcasing a number of local producers and their products with a variety
of stalls, sampler stations and information booths. The farmers market provided the support framework to
the two cooking demos for the evening. Master Chef 2016 winner, Elena Duggan, was a special guest for
the evening. Using locally grown lamb, fruit and vegetables, Elena cooked up a storm in the library and
delivered a new age twist on the traditional staple of ‘meat and three veg’. Throughout the demonstration,
Elena referred to the local producers who were on hand as part of the farmers market and asked for their
input and information regarding their produce. Hilda and Laurie Inglese, first generation Italians, gave a
demonstration on authentic Italian pasta making. As part of their demonstration, they showcased their
family homes in Italy and the development of their cooking style which culminated in the publishing of
their book, Wow! It’s Italian.

Children’s Section Redevelopment
The Tumut Library undertook a complete redevelopment of the children’s section. Award winning children’s
illustrator and author, Stephen Michael King was commissioned to design and paint a mural which is now
the main feature of the space, wrapping around the entire area and showcasing some of his most popular
characters. New shelving was installed which aimed to display more of the collection and to work in with
the mural. The dynamic of the space has changed significantly and it is warmly welcoming to everyone.

Awards and Finalists
Tumut Library was awarded a NSWPLA Marketing Award as
part of the NSWPLA Switch Conference held at Penrith for the
Cooks, Books and Produce event held in August. The event was
also a finalist in the Service Delivery Initiative for Population
under 60,000. Whilst unsuccessful in securing the top gong,
it was once again a wonderful opportunity to showcase the
changing role of libraries in their communities. Coordinator
Library Services, Kristin Twomey, was named as a judge for the
Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards
in the Eve Pownall category for Information Books. Kristin
was also named a finalist as part of the Ministers’ Awards for
Women in Local Government 2018 awards ceremony held at
NSW Parliament in March. Kristin’s work in raising the profile
and dynamic of libraries in their communities was the feature
of her nomination.

Kristin Twomey - Women in Local Kristin Twomey
Government Award finalist Coordinator Library Services
Tumut Library

54

Mural in Children’s Section 2,105
Library
53,234 Members

Library Visits

42,819 14,454
Loans
Collection Items

Tumut Library Snowy Valleys Council Opening Hours:
169 Wynyard Street Network of Libraries Monday - Friday
TUMUT NSW 2720 10:00am - 6:00pm
Adelong
02 6941 2541 Batlow Saturday
Talbingo 9:00am - 12:00pm
Tumbarumba
Tumut 55

Wagga Wagga

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Programming
The Language Café English conversation classes reached its first anniversary with over 1,000 visits and
40 community volunteers. The Saturday Volunteers also won the 2018 RRL Reading Culture Award – in
appreciation of your contributions to the reading culture of our region and enriching the lives of people in your
community through literacy. Originally started to activate the English as a Second Language Collection, the
Language Café grew to be a highly successful social engagement program that resulted in many positive
outcomes including new friendships, greater cross cultural understanding and improved literacy skills. The
first Language Café, in July 2017, had 13 people from nine language backgrounds with five volunteers.
The participants came from more than 30 countries of origin such as Syria, Iraq, Iran, Korea, China, India,
Japan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Spain, Afghanistan, Mexico, Pakistan, Indonesia and Columbia. Language Café is
held three days per week across the year and expanded into more CALD programming including Arabic
language classes for children held on Saturdays; Tech Savvy Senior computer classes in Mandarin and Dari;
and a Persian Language Book Club. Language Café received a Highly Commended Multicultural Award at
the NSW Public Libraries Association Conference. The library also has a Community Languages Collection
of more than 2600 books from the State Library of NSW, featuring adult and children’s books in 14 different
languages - Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Sinhalese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Hindi, Tamil, Tagalog, Burmese,
Urdu, Croatian, Serbian and Kurdish.
LIVE Events
Date Night was celebrated across the Library, Art Gallery, Theatre and Museum on Library Lovers Day
in February. All cultural facilities stayed open late and there were bars and live music spread across all
venues. The Library was set up like a cosy night club with Peter Casey playing music, ‘blind date’ books
were available for free, and a Tinder projection of literary profiles for participants to imagine swiping left or
right! Featured potential literary dates were: Scarlet O’Hara, Jo March, Heathcliff, Jane Eyre, Mr Darcy, and
Elizabeth Bennet. State Librarian Dr John Vallance worked with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to facilitate
the live streaming of Verdi’s Requiem into Wagga Wagga City Library and other NSW public libraries on
World Live Music Day. The event was fully subscribed and had a waiting list, with over 80 people enjoying
fine music and refreshments on the night. The feedback was universally positive.

Date Night Literary Profiles

56

Language Cafe 171,733 18,310
Library
264,651 Library Visits Members
Loans
78,030

Collection Items

Wagga Wagga Opening Hours:
City Library Monday 11:00am - 6:00pm
Civic Centre
Tuesday - Friday
Cnr Baylis & Morrow Sts 10:00am - 6:00pm
WAGGA WAGGA
NSW 2650 Saturday
02 6926 9700 10:00am - 4:00pm

57

Wagga Wagga

Sydney Writers Festival Live Streaming
The library livestreamed the Sydney Writers Festival into the Civic Centre during May to the delight of local
reading enthusiasts. Some of the authors interviewed over the three days were: Jane Harper – Force of
Nature; Gareth Evans – Incorrigible Optimist; Peter Greste – The First Casualty; Masha Gessen – The Future
is History; Angela Saini – Inferior – How Science Got Women Wrong; Sarah Ferguson – On Mother; Tayari
Jones – An American Marriage; and Emily Wilson – Translating The Odyssey. Guests enjoyed the fascinating
conversations with erudite presenters like Jennifer Byrne, Kerry O’Brien, Hugh Rimmington, Richard Fidler,
Julia Zemiro, Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales. Feedback from the 300 guests reflected on how much they
enjoyed the stimulating program and also how thankful they were to have the opportunity to be at the
festival without having to travel to Sydney and line up in long queues.

Felt Making
Lifelong Learning
Technology classes, Makers Spaces activities and information sessions were very popular with the
community. Tech Savvy Seniors and Be Connected classes attracted regular bookings at the Friday
morning timeslots. Topics included social media, email, online shopping, banking and travel. There were
also Multicultural Language Tech Savvy sessions delivered in Mandarin and Dari. Makers Space activities
included Silk Painting, Felt Making, Digital Photography and regular Knit-Ins. Information sessions were also
popular and covered topics as diverse as the CWA Poland Information session, My Health Record sessions,
Piano Forte – a Law Week event on elder abuse, the Red Cross Asylum Seekers talk, a talk on Living with
Autism; and Tapped – a film marking National Water Week in partnership with Sustainable Wagga.

58

Wagga Wagga

Fish Weaving
STEAM ( Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Maths)
The 4th Annual Riverina Science Festival was presented by the library during National Science Week in
August and was funded by a Federal Government Inspiring Australia Grant. There were three Indigenous
components: Fish Weaving using Lomandra leaves with local Aboriginal Elders to celebrate the Fishing
With The Moon story; a two storey high digital projection of the animated Wiradjuri Sky Stories as told by
local Elders and illustrated by renowned digital artist Yenny Huber; and the National Indigenous Science
Education Program (NISEP). The NISEP Community Day combined modern science with the science of the
First Australians. Year 9 Indigenous students from Mount Austin High School and Kooringal High School
shared practical science activities with primary school students and the community with help from NISEP
teachers, Charles Sturt University scientists, the Office of Environment and Heritage officers, and Peter
Ingram, local Wiradjuri man. The night sky theme was extended through Starr’s Pop-Up Planetarium
which was a popular destination with schools and family groups booking out all sessions. Other activities
held during the festival included Kitchen Science Storytime sessions, the microscopic fun of Closer, and a
fermentation workshop at the Museum of the Riverina. The library also secured Inspiring Australia NSW
funding for Nerd Nite Wagga at the Union Hotel in August. Three brainy presenters: Peter Casey, Dean
Narramore and Scott Howie, shared their passion on three arcane topics. The topics were the Australian
Top 40 1990-2009, storm chasing in tornado alley USA, and the Hermit of Scenic Hill near Griffith. The NSW
funding was also used to offer three Sustainability Workshops on Happy Chooks, Edible Gardening and
Backyard Bees.
One Book One Wagga
During February to May over 800 people and RRL Book Club members read the 2018 One Book One Wagga
(OBOW) title, The Life to Come by Michelle de Krester. This novel was shortlisted for both the 2018 Stella
Prize and the Miles Franklin Award. At the fifth annual OBOW Gala Dinner over 100 people listened to Amy
Heap interview the author and then engaged in a Q&A session afterwards. Michelle is a fantastically gifted
writer. She has written six novels and won a number of awards including the 2013 Miles Franklin Award
for her novel, Questions of Travel. OBOW is a stellar literary event on Wagga Wagga’s cultural calendar, with
Mayor, Greg Conkey and General Manager, Peter Thompson, officiating. Thanks are due to the hard work
and passion of all the staff who make this an ongoing success.

59

Wagga Wagga

Storytime
Children’s Early Literacy Programs and School Holiday Treats
Storytime sessions were well attended by the children and parents who love the experience - the stories,
the jokes, the singing and craft, plus the high calibre of the presentations. Over 4,000 attend these sessions
each year and the Storytime facebook traffic is the busiest for any library program with high numbers of
‘likes’ and ‘shares’. Popular themes this year included: making pizzas; sharks; dragons; trains; the circus;
robots; gardens; and Mother’s Day. The library also worked with partners to value add to the Storytime
program and to the participants’experience by co-presenting a range of activities. These included Kitchen
Science Storytime during National Science Week; Multicultural Storytime and the Fusion Multicultural
Festival; CPR lessons for parents with small children; Centacare Stronger Families Stronger Communities
Storytime sessions; and the annual Peri Natal Depression Association Information Session and Morning Tea.
Library programs for older children included live performances like Stig Wemyss at the Civic Theatre, Travel
Bugs, and the Vegetable Plot Show which attracted 120 participants. Free Family Movie Wednesday was
introduced as a regular school holiday program this year and proved to be a great success. Having ceiling
speakers, black out blinds and an updated projector, the library staff created a full cinema experience
(without the expense) for local families. In addition, Book Week and school tours in general brought over
2,000 Wagga Wagga school children to the library where they enjoyed Dewin’ the Dewey activities, stories
and craft, and a take home goodies bag. This year for the first time a community member also started
regular Arabic language classes for children on Saturday afternoons.

60

Wagga Wagga

Bus Shelters Promotions
Reaching new audiences beyond the library walls is more important than ever. The library has a fortnightly
newspaper column in the Daily Advertiser, a monthly radio spot and provides a steady flow of social media
posts from Wagga Wagga City Library, Storytime and the Riverina Science Hub facebook pages. A few years
ago, TV advertisements were created and they still run on the library’s TV screens. This year the library
decided to create large scale bus shelter promotions for passing traffic or those waiting inside the bus
shelter. There are six themed promotions that occupy strategic locations across the city. Using the It’s your
library! tagline each site has a different image and message: Free to join! The library has books in multiple
languages, DVDs and magazines to borrow at no cost. Stream free! Download books, movies and music from
the library at no cost. Go green! Borrowing from the library is sustainable and a great way to reduce your
carbon footprint. Here to help! Tech classes, free wifi and friendly staff at the library to help with computers
and devices. Learn and Grow! Free storytime, workshops, classes and programs for lifelong learning. Join
and get connected. Meet and connect! Visit the library, enjoy the free wifi, join the community.
Land of W Writers Workshops and the Booranga Writers 4W Annual Launch
Katrien Pickles from the Land of W, presented a fully subscribed writers workshop for budding young
authors aged ten years and over. The resulting work was displayed at Eastern Riverina Arts in a Land Of W
exhibition. The workshop was funded by a Wagga Wagga City Council CROW grant in partnership with the
library. For adult writers the annual Booranga Writers Centre 4W Book Launch was held in the library in
November with eighty people in attendance. The Booranga and library partnership has resulted in many
annual launches and an ongoing commitment to cross promote literary events.

Jeremy Scott Author Talk
Literary Programs and Events
This year over 16,000 people attended library programs and events which represents 24% of Wagga Wagga’s
population. Readers attended a suite of literary delights across the year including author talks, livestreaming
events and workshops. Author talks included: Bernard Sullivan and Dr Stan Grant - Yindyamarra Yambuwan;
Marlo Wild - My Squares and Triangles: Looking at the World through the eyes of Autism; Hilda and Laurie
Inglese - WOW It’s Italian; Jane Carter - Prodigal Daughter; Sophie Green - The Inaugural Meeting of the
Fairvale Ladies Book Club; Heather Ward - Fat Bob and The Blonde; Jeremy Scott - The Long Road From a
Broken Heart; Acacia Class Sturt Public School - Rad Reece to the Rescue; and David Dufty - The Secret Code-
breakers of Central Bureau: How Australia’s Signals-Intelligence Network Helped Shorten the Pacific War.

61

RRL Statistics 2017-2018

26,799 250 Book Club titles 3,298

collection items purchased circulated to 85 Book Clubs donated items received

563,738 38,853

visits to total RRL members
RRL branch libraries
13,219
586,567
Internal Delivery Service
RRL items loaned
Collection item tubs distributed around

purchases and discards RRL branch libraries

26,799
IN
31,591
OUT

62

RRL Statistics 2017-2018

755 Most popular 1,966
eMagazine title
ancestry.com sessions Story Box Library views

24,302 7,699 29,114

eBook loans eMagazine eAudio loans

downloads

41,503 3,609 5,215

RRL website visits Beamafilm and Story Freegal music
Box Library views
111 IN downloads

205 OUT Inter
Library
Loans

63

RRL Statistics 2017-2018 New stock by Local Government Area

Total stock by Local Government Area

Member Council populations Council %pop. $
and contributions 4.30
Bland 5,959 3.13 119,474
4,342 8.27 105,826
Coolamon 9.12 208,629
Cootamundra-Gundagai 11,461 7.49 285,813
Federation 12,629 4.50 269,508
10,378 2.18 113,407
Greater Hume 6,230 10.82 118,329
Junee 311,502
Lockhart 3,025 4.38 123,972
14,994 45.79 1,350,415
Snowy Valleys 6,071 100.00 3,006,874
Temora
Wagga Wagga 63,428
138,517

64

Membership as percent of population by LGA RRL Statistics 2017-2018

Loans by Local Government Area

Loans per capita by Local Government Area

65

66

Oh, the places you’ll go!

Tooma Valley on a foggy June morning
viewed from the Mobile Library

67

68

2017-2018

rrl.nsw.gov.au