More than just a place for books, our libraries support learning, creativity, social and digital inclusion, community wellbeing and resilience.

The development of the draft Library Strategic Plan 2023 - 2028 has been informed by research and consultation over a two-year period with library users and non-users. More than 4,000 individual responses were received and reviewed throughout the engagement period.

We heard several key themes, including:

• Our community highly values its libraries for the services they provide. People love the collections, the programs, the spaces, the interactions and the experiences they have when they are at the library.
• Library users are proud of their libraries. They think libraries provide an excellent service that connects with them and makes them feel part of a unique community.
• Innovation is the key to a library’s success. The community admires the fact that our libraries are continually striving to explore new ways of expanding access and delivery of community focused services, even in difficult times.

This feedback helped us to frame of the library’s future strategic directions alongside research into contemporary library service provision.

In response, the draft Plan proposes a targeted focus on four strategic directions which are outlined below.

Submissions have now closed and we are reviewing all feedback received. Your feedback on the draft Plan will help inform the final Library Strategic Plan 2023 - 2028.

All submissions in their entirety are made publicly available in the Community Engagement Report. Personal identifying information and inappropriate language are redacted.

We captured some of your ideas about what our libraries might offer to meet the needs of our diverse community moving forward.

View what people said below.