"Our libraries are so much more than just borrowing books", says Eurobodalla Council's director of community, arts and recreation Kathy Arthur.
"In the past year, our three libraries – at Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay – welcomed more than 120,000 in-person visitors, lent 130,000 books, magazines and other items, helped almost 20,000 people with computers and technology, and hosted 645 events. Now we want to hear what should come next."
Council's draft Library Strategic Plan 2026-2032 is open for public comment until Friday 25 September. It builds upon the previous strategy to set the libraries' direction for the next six years. Ms Arthur says more than half of Eurobodalla's population is a library member, and the numbers show just how valued the service is, recording a whopping 97 percent satisfaction rate in Council's 2025 community survey – the highest of any Council service.
"Our previous benchmarking shows that every dollar invested in the libraries returned around $2.90 worth of community benefit," says Ms Arthur.
"We've embraced digital, with e-loans growing by 30 percent. In 2025-26 more than 31,500 people took out more than 61,000 digital loans. Now we're looking at other ways our libraries can help people connect, evolving with the community.
This draft has been shaped by 296 people and organisations through surveys, advisory committee discussions and pop-up events between September 2025 and May 2026, proposing three themes – Connect, Collect and Centre – supported by 12 aims and 28 actions. Ms Arthur says whether you're five or 95, a regular user or someone walking through the doors for the first time, our libraries need to stay welcoming, useful and relevant.
"We've listened to the community in developing his draft and now we want to know what people think of it."
