From fitness classes to financial information sessions, public libraries are modernising and offering more amid a surge in users and a cost-of-living crisis.
Alyson Hockey and her husband Kelvin are the instructors of a free fitness class held at libraries in the Rockhampton region.
For some of their participants, it is their only regular social outing.
Alyson and Kelvin Hockey run fitness classes at libraries in Rockhampton and Gracemere. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
“It’s bringing the older community together,” Mr Hockey said.
“A lot of these people don’t see anyone between these days.”
Frank and Margie Brewitt’s doctor recommended the class and it is something they look forward to each week.
“We tried it out and we’ve been almost every Monday since,” Ms Brewitt said.
“It’s good company, good friendships and waste a bit of energy … they’re just friendly and easy to get along with.”
The fitness class at the Gracemere Library is the most popular event in the library’s program. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Plenty on offer
The latest annual report produced by The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and National and State Libraries Australasia shows attendance for library programs has almost doubled nationally in recent years, up from 3.5 million participants in 2020-21 to more than 6.1 million in 2022-23.
In the Rockhampton region, almost 60,000 people attended programs last financial year, an increase of 37 per cent on the 2022-23 financial year and the highest number ever recorded.
This compares to a statewide statistics of 1,424,865 program participants for the year.
ALIA chief executive Cathie Warburton said after COVID lockdowns, the way libraries were being used by the public had shifted.
Cathie Warburton says people can access libraries without being a member. (Supplied: ALIA)
“Because you can go into a library without being a member,” she said.
“And you can book a meeting room, you can look at books while you’re in there or magazines, you can join a class, a program, whether it be for learning English or learning origami or whatever it is … all without being a member.”
People can also borrow e-books and stream movies, TV shows and documentaries for free from the comfort of their homes.
“It’s a real cost saving,” she said.
“Using the library and everything it has to offer can save you a huge amount of money.”
Today’s libraries have more than books on offer. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
170 years of history
It has been more than 170 years since the first public library in Australia, the State Library Victoria, opened in 1854.
Today, there are 1,412 branches, 76 mobile libraries and 226 other outlets, including self-serve kiosks, library depots and collection vending machines, across the country.
Alyson Hockey hosts one of her library fitness classes. (ABC Capricornia: Vanessa Jarrett)
“Libraries always change to reflect their community and what the community’s needs are,” Ms Warburton said.
“A library, for example, in Rockhampton is probably very different to a library on the Gold Coast because those communities are different and have different needs,” Ms Warburton said.
