No more fines for late library returns

Fines for late returns of items borrowed from the West Gippsland Libraries service will be a thing of the past from the start of July.

In their introductions to the recently released 2019-2020 budget chair Cr Geoff Ellis of Bass Coast shire and chief executive officer Leanne Williams said fines were a barrier to people visiting the libraries and those who could least afford to pay them were often the ones that most needed a library.

Ms Williams said fines on overdue items totalled more than $23,000 last year.

Cr Ellis described the permanent removal of fines was one of the key strategies to demonstrate the service’s value and purpose and grow the number of people that use it.

Other major initiatives next financial year will be an increase of $45,000 in investment in the collection with a focus on e-resources for which loans grew by more than 60 per cent over the past year.

The regional library service was established by Baw Baw, Bass Coast and South Gippsland shires in 1995.

It operates 12 libraries plus two mobile libraries that serve 20 communities.

The 2019-2020 draft budget projects an operating surplus of $290,000, up by about $60,000, with the cost of delivering the services reaching a record $6.46 million.

Membership remained stable last financial year at about 40,400 of which 25,500 were active members.

The number of visits to libraries were consistent with the previous three years at just under 600,000.

Copies of the draft budget are available for inspection at library branches and the mobile services as well as the website www.wgrlc.vic.gov.au

Written submissions from the public can be lodged until 3pm on Wednesday, May 29.