Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Councillor Duncan Gair has welcomed the State Government's pledge to inject $36.5 million in funding across NSW public libraries this financial year.
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"This is great news for our Shire and State," he said.
"Libraries are an integral part of our community and this commitment provides real certainty and protection for all our library users."
Council's Coordinator of Library Services Andrew White said the increase was primarily based on a fixed per head capita payment of $2.45 per person from the previous $1.85 per person.
"This means our Shire's Public Libraries will see a funding increase of $56,445 this financial year," he said.
"This increase will enable us to make improvements to our facilities, collections and a host of services that we offer from our three public libraries and mobile book van."
Detailed in the 2019 NSW State Budget the per capita amount will increase over the next three years resulting in a total of $60 million allocated towards public libraries over the next four years.
The new funding package also includes a capital grants program of $24 million over four years which will enable improvements to library buildings and IT systems.
"These funding increases will make a huge difference in helping our libraries to better meet the growing demands of our readers and communities."
For more information on Wingecarribee Shire Council libraries, including opening hours, collections and services, visit www.library.wsc.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 266 235.
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