Library extension may reduce costs
A fourth municipality may be included in the MyLi library service, resulting in reduced costs for the three current member councils including Baw Baw.
Council has supported a variation to the My Li agreement to allow a fourth or subsequent council to be approved by the board.
The three member councils - Baw Baw, Bass Coast and South Gippsland - currently pay their annual support costs based on a per capita funding arrangement.
Under the new agreement, if extra municipalities are included in the MyLi service, member councils will pay an equal share annual fee.
In July last year the three member councils unanimously supported establishment of MyLi as a not-for-profit entity and charity to deliver library services, replacing the previous West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation.
As part of the transition to MyLi, the board undertook an extensive review of scenarios to determine an affordable formula for more municipalities to join MyLi.
The review supported replacing the per capita financial arrangement to an equal share arrangement. However, this will be only enacted once a fourth council joins MyLi.
Cr Annemarie McCabe said with the transition to MyLi, the library service was shifting its attention to growth - "growth of membership, growth of revenue and growth of services."
She said the aim was to grow services to the community at no extra cost to council.
"This is an exciting time for our library service. We are laying the foundations for our service to grow and adapt to provide public library resources and programs to our community," she said.Cr Joe Gauci said he hoped the library board foes forward with its vision.
"This tells me the board is looking forward to the future and how it can best serve our community. I hope we have a library sitting out here (the proposed new cultural and connection precinct) that might be a part of the deal as well," he said.
The previous West Gippsland Libraries organisation provided library services to Baw Baw, Bass Coast and South Gippsland for more than 25 years.
A report to council said MyLi had a "high reputation" that "punches above its weight."
Some of MyLi's key performance indicators outlined in the report include:
* 16 per cent increase in patrons using the service to more than 25,000 active members;
* More than 40,000 members, the highest level in the past five years;
* Rates in the top third of all library services in Victoria; and,
* First library corporation to transition to a not-for-profit and charity organisation structure.
MyLi also was the first library in Australia to offer a 24/7 library access, giving members increased access with no additional cost to councils. The board has since voted to support implementation of the 24/7 service in all its libraries as the opportunities arise.
A report to council said the transition to the new structure was in its final stages.
The report said the new structure enabled the service to grow to other councils which will grow the revenue base and expand the revenue base from other areas including philanthropic funding.