Latrobe City Libraries hosted a launch of the Libraries Change Lives community stories today, Tuesday 18 May at the Moe Library.
The exhibition saw the unveiling of posters featuring the 18 community members who contributed stories to the campaign over the past two years.
The Libraries Change Lives campaign is an initiative of State Library Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria Network. The campaign enables communities to demonstrate the value of libraries through their own stories and the positive contribution to their lives.
Latrobe City Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson said these stories assisted in advocating the need of public libraries and helped when seeking increased funding.
"We know how important libraries are in our community, as we have listened to our Community and they tell us that libraries are not just for knowledge and learning, they are vital for social connections too," she said.
"During the COVID lockdown, library services were still delivered, either digitally or via home library and click and collect. However, we know that patrons missed the physical branches for their key services such as free WiFi and public access computers.
"Over the years of collecting stories for this campaign, we have learnt the small and the profound ways that libraries impact the lives of people in our community. From young children getting their first library card to students using our spaces for quiet study; from the isolated receiving a bag of books directly to their door and to the people who have learned, dreamed and grown after spending time in a library."
The launch will feature authors Sue Smethurst and Scot Gardner, both well-known to the Latrobe City community, who will speak about their own love of libraries. Copies of the booklets, containing all community stories, were available at the launch.
"We are delighted to share these important stories with our community. Whilst the backgrounds of those who participated are very different, there is one common thread through their stories: the joy of being able to access such a wide range of resources and services on offer," Cr Gibson said.
"A library is a true community treasure and we believe this exhibition highlights their riches."
Stories will also be available on the library website at www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/library
