Public libraries support
Local Government Victoria supports public libraries through a range of grants and other funding. Local Government Victoria is also responsible for governance issues relating to regional library corporations and Mechanics’ Institutes.
Funding and service agreements
Local Government Victoria administers the Government’s grants to libraries. This includes managing three year funding and service agreements with:
- 13 regional library services (each serving two or more councils)
- 33 single-council library services
- a state-wide library services for people with print disabilities
These funding and service agreements cover two program areas:
- core funding, which helps councils provide public library services
- local priorities funding, which supports specific local services identified by the library as a priority
Other one-off grants are also provided for public library services.
The Department of Planning and Community Development has recently reviewed its standard Funding Agreements to make them easier to understand and simpler to use and complete. Agreements are send directly to public libraries, but a draft copy of the Funding Agreement (PDF 653 kb) and the Terms and Conditions (PDF 333 kb) are available for perusal.
Living Libraries
Victorian Public Library Infrastructure program recognises that many of the State’s current library buildings are inappropriate for delivering the library services needed by the Victorian community into the 21st century.
The Living Libraries program is designed to help Victorian councils and regional libraries provide high quality and accessible public library facilities that help support and strengthen communities.
Governance
Regional Library Corporations operate under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1989. Under the Act, libraries must operate and report using a structure similar to that of municipal councils. Each corporation has an agreement between its members which has been approved by the Minister for Local Government.