Geelong’s libraries once again rated as the state’s best

FOR the fourth year running, the Geelong Regional Library Corporation has been rated as Victoria’s highest ranking public library service.

An independent analysis of the library corporation’s comparative performance and industry standing based on the 2016-17 Annual Survey of Victorian Public Libraries conducted by I&J Management Services has found that the region’s library corporation continues with its number one ranking.

The ranking in relation to other Victorian public library services is assessed on the basis of the Public Library of Victoria’s 10 key indicators of performance.

The analysis of data from the 2016-17 Annual Survey of Victorian Public Libraries demonstrates that the GRLC not only delivers on performance, it also enjoys one of the highest levels of library usage per capita in the state, with nearly one in two residents (41 per cent) of the region being library members.

The GRLC achieves these outcomes with levels of financial and operational efficiencies that are equivalent to the industry average, displaying the desirable combination of very high service levels and usage delivered at average industry cost.

The report also indicates the performance and operational efficiencies of the shared services model, with six out of ten of the state’s top 10 library services (including the GRLC) being corporation model services.

GRLC chair Cr Margot Smith said she was thrilled that the GRLC continued to be the state’s best performing library service.

“We should all be exceptionally proud of this achievement. Once again, the Geelong region’s library corporation has set the benchmark in service performance and received number one status ahead of our big-city services.

“It is very gratifying, on the 20th anniversary of the library corporation, that these results shine a light on the benefits of partnership and collaboration and the excellent results we enjoy from our four member councils working together to deliver high-level services for our region’s community.”

Participation at library events and programs rose from 68,000 in 2011-12 to 150,000 in 2016-17, with GRLC branches recording two million visits.

The corporation’s library user survey in 2016 showed an average user satisfaction rating of 4.75 out of 5.