Georges River Council has set out its library strategy to meet the needs of the community over the next ten years.
The 2030 Georges River Library Strategy was endorsed at last week's council meeting.
Community consultation revealed that to satisfy the changing needs of the Georges River community the library service model needs to focus on three key themes: spaces, collections and services.
Georges River has five libraries: two large libraries at Hurstville and Kogarah; three small branch libraries at Oatley, Penshurst and South Hurstville.
The libraries are not evenly distributed across the local government area and do not adequately serve the western half of Georges River, according to a report presented to the council's Community and Culture Committee.
'Hurstville and Kogarah libraries are well used and are often overcrowded but the facilities are becoming dated," the report said.
"Kogarah has benefited from a recent renovation but Hurstville requires refurbishment.
"The branch libraries at Oatley, Penshurst and South Hurstville are small and therefore it is challenging to provide the full range of collections or services expected by the community.
"Data shows that customers use the two large libraries significantly more than the three branch libraries, with 80 per cent of overall visitation represented by Hurstville and Kogarah."
If the total floor space of the libraries is not increased over the next ten years, there will not be enough library space to provide the diverse range of services expected by the changing and growing community.
The minimum standards for library size are determined by the State Library of New South Wales.
Based on the size of the population and the services, Georges River Council the projected shortfall of current floor space for Georges River population in 2036 is 2,400 square-metres.
Community consultation revealed three key needs related to the future of the library service in the Georges River area - spaces, collections and services.
From these key needs, the Libraries 2030 Georges River Library Strategy puts forward three strategic directions that Council should focus on in order to embed and enhance the library service over the next ten years:
'Spaces' - identifies that the libraries should be suited to a variety of different uses and better distributed across the Georges River area, provide flexible spaces for a range of facilities, resources and programs.
'Collections' - that the libraries collect items that reflect the needs of its diverse community, promote creativity, celebrate local identity, support lifelong learning and foster social cohesion. That the unique history and culture of Georges River should be the heart of the collection.
'Services' - intends to increase social inclusion and create opportunities for the entire community, provide a broad spectrum of services, technology and attentive, one-on-one help and advice.
Feedback received from the public exhibition showed that respondents were supportive of another library in the west of the local government area to ensure that Georges River met the growing population's needs in the future.
Several comments related to new services such as streaming services, new technology, charging points for technology and programs to be held on evenings and weekends.
These operational requests will be considered as part of the ongoing operational requirements of the service.
Comment was also made on the harmonising of library opening hours which will be addressed.
There was a request for a library present in Kingsgrove and this will be considered as part of a feasibility study to implement standalone self-service and all-hours pick up point in key transport and population centres.