Yarra Libraries Strategic Plan
The Yarra Libraries Plan is a four-year strategic document that sets out key directions for Yarra's library service.
Here is the 
Yarra Libraries 2008-2012 Strategic Plan (783.15kB)
Over Summer 2011/2012, Council sought community comment to help it develop a new four-year plan. More than 2000 people provided input, telling Council what they valued about existing library services and what they would like to see more of.
This feedback will help Council develop a draft Yarra Libraries 2013-2017 Plan. Council is expected to seek community feedback on a draft plan in mid-2012 before it adopts the final plan.
Here is an 
Issues Paper on Yarra Libraries' strategic development issues (172.81kB) which touches on some of the emerging trends in libraries and some of the themes that are expected in the new Strategic Plan.
What is the Yarra Libraries Plan?
The Strategic Plan sets out Council’s key directions for the library service over the next five years in response to community needs, our understanding of the challenges and opportunities that are ahead, and based on Council’s commitment to provide high quality and accessible services.
Planning for the future could include strategies to purchase more computers and communication technology, to increase the number of audio books and DVDS, or to hold more in-library events aimed at children and young people.
The City of Yarra is a diverse and changing community, and it is vital that our library service continues to grow and respond to the changing needs of residents. Yarra Libraries provides an opportunity for our residents to pursue their interests and learn new things. Libraries not only encourage reading, literacy, and lifelong learning, they also provide access to technology, community information, community meeting spaces, and a wide range of events and activities for residents of all ages and backgrounds.
History of the strategic plan
In April 2007, Yarra Libraries was established as a business unit of Council following the dissolution of the Yarra-Melbourne Regional Library Corporation.
The Yarra Libraries Strategic Plan 2008-2012 was adopted in 2009, providing strategic direction and an annual action plan for the new library service in alignment with Council’s strategic planning framework.
Major policy developments during this plan have included the adoption of the Yarra Libraries Collection Development Policy and the Yarra Libraries Library Policyv (see below), both keystone documents of public libraries. Consultation has been conducted on these documents and on the Yarra Libraries Opening Hours Review, the results of which provide a valuable reference for future planning of branch hours.
Yarra Libraries Policy
Yarra Libraries has revised the interim Library Policy on the rights and responsibilities that inform membership and use of the library service.
The draft policy covers admission and use of facilities, membership requirements, borrowing, conduct in the library and enforcement of the Library Policy.
The draft policy was released for public comment in April 2011. Please find below the policy in both PDF and RTF format.
Draft Yarra Libraries Policy (95.57kB)
Draft Yarra Libraries Policy (1.03MB) (rtf format)
Annual survey of Victorian Public Libraries
Each year a survey of public libraries in Victoria is undertaken by the State Government, which includes information about service points, staffing, loans, circulation, collection size, information technology and financial data.
These documents can be downloaded here.
Figures relating to Yarra Libaries can be found on these reports:
Opening Hours Review
In December 2010, Council hired consultants to conduct a review of its library opening hours.
Part of the review involved surveying library users to find out whether their needs were being met by the current opening hours.
Feedback from these surveys indicated that users would like to see some branches open earlier on Fridays and longer on the weekends.
Here is a copy of the consultants' report: Yarra Libraries Opening Hours Review (386.11kB)
Council estimates the additional operating costs of opening all libraries until 4.00pm on Saturdays, and from 10am on Fridays and 1pm on Sundays would be about $125,000 per annum.
Any change to the current opening hours at Yarra's five libraries will now be considered during the drafting of the next Yarra Libraries Strategic Plan, a process which is expected to begin in 2012.
If Council decides then to extend the opening hours, the proposal would be the subject of further public consultation and would not expected to be introduced until 2013 at the earliest.
Collection Development Policy
In February 2010, Council adopted a new Collection Development Policy.
The policy sets out how Council will manage and develop Yarra’s print, media-based and electronic library collections into the future.
Prior to adopting the policy, Council sought community feedback.
Yarra Libraries Collection Development Policy (474.25kB)
Further information
Jenny Ruffy
Manager - Cultural and Library Services
9205 5389
Jenny.Ruffy@yarracity.vic.gov.au
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