It’s been a busy year for the five public libraries across Wyndham, with services being used more than two million times.
Council data reveals that 875,870 people visited a Wyndham library in the 2015-16 financial year, and more than 1.6 million items were borrowed.
Libraries aren’t just about borrowing books, according to the figures, with 117,977 individual bookings made to use a computer, 226,137 sessions of Wifi and 79,164 hours of internet usage.
Programs and events offered for children, youth and adults also continued to grow, with a record participation of 75,204.
Rhonda Rathjen, the council’s acting director of community development, said libraries had transformed and were a central part of communities for people to learn and socialise for free.
“The increase in usage of Wyndham’s libraries can be attributed to an increase in awareness of programs and services on offer, along with the opening of the new library in Tarneit,” she said.
Services offered include free activities for all ages, including craft, chess, Lego workshops and IT classes, study areas, computers, family and local history services, and language classes.
Wyndham’s libraries are at the Werribee Plaza, Watton Street, Point Cook, Wyndham Vale and Tarneit.
