Public libraries

State Library Victoria partners with public libraries across Victoria to enrich the cultural, educational, social and economic lives of all Victorians. Through our partnership with Public Libraries Victoria (PLV), we strengthen the sector by supporting leadership, workforce development, advocacy and the sharing of best practice.

We celebrate and inspire excellence by showcasing the State Collection, fostering collaboration between libraries, delivering innovative community programs in partnership with public libraries and recognising library professionals through awards that drive innovation and leadership.

Our advocacy program highlights the social and economic value of public libraries and drives government and community investment. Its achievements include launching the Libraries Change Lives community campaign and conducting a census and survey of Victorian public library users in partnership with PLV.

Framework for Collaborative Action

The Framework for Collaborative Action guides how the Library Board of Victoria, through State Library Victoria, partners with public libraries to deliver innovative services.

Developed by the Board’s Advisory Committee on Public Libraries, the Framework sets a shared vision for improving public library access, establishes values and protocols for confident decision-making, clarifies roles and responsibilities and outlines how goals will be achieved.

The collaboration aims to ensure every Victorian can access library collections and services, support a skilled and leadership-ready workforce, foster innovative community engagement, strengthen advocacy for public libraries and improve service delivery efficiency.

The Statewide Public Library Development Projects are the main focus of this collaboration. These triennial projects are funded by the Library Board of Victoria and are designed to deliver statewide benefit, increase library capability, encourage collaboration and stimulate innovation. 

2023–2026 Statewide Public Library Development Projects 

Libraries for Health and Wellbeing program

Public libraries play a vital role in supporting community health and wellbeing. Highlights of this program include updating the Libraries for Health and Wellbeing: A Strategic Framework for Victorian Public Libraries towards 2024, evaluating the Libraries for Health and Wellbeing Innovation Grants program, investigating how libraries support social connection, delivering targeted staff training and running a statewide community engagement program.

Libraries for Aboriginal People

This initiative ensures public library spaces, collections and programs are safe, relevant and welcoming for Aboriginal people. Projects focus on building cultural competency and developing engagement roadmaps to support meaningful connections with Aboriginal peoples and organisations.

Libraries Future-ready

The Future-ready program ensures the sector has the skills, knowledge, and leadership capability required for 21st-century libraries. The program delivers training, provides scholarships and awards, mentoring and leadership development opportunities. Key initiatives include the Future State: Empowering Library Leaders development program, the CAVAL Mentoring Program, the Margery C Ramsay and Barrett Reid Scholarships and the Pierre Gorman Award.

Major publications

State Library Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria have published several major research and strategic reports and frameworks that have helped shape Victoria’s public library services.

Libraries for health and wellbeing

• The health and wellbeing benefits of public libraries across Victoria (2023)
• Libraries for Health and Wellbeing: A Partnerships Toolkit (2022)
• Libraries for Health and Wellbeing: A strategic framework for Victoria public libraries towards 2024 (2021) 

Future-ready libraries

• Skills audit of Victorian public library sector (2019)
• Victorian public libraries: Our future our skills: Research report (2014) 
• Victorian public libraries 2030 strategic framework (2013) 
• Victorian public libraries 2030 strategic framework: Summary report (2013) 
• Being the best we can: Key result areas for public libraries: self-evaluation framework and toolkit (2011) 

Libraries change lives

• 2022 Victorian Public Library Census and Report
• 2022 Victorian Public Library Census and Survey - Comparison with 2006 Census and Survey Results 
• Inside our public libraries: Findings of the Victorian Public Libraries Survey and Victorian Public Library Census (2022) 
• Libraries Change Lives: Victorian State Budget 2020–2021 Victorian State Budget 2020–2021 (2020) 
• Libraries Change Lives: Victorian State Budget 2020–2021 COVID-19 Recovery Update to Budget Submission to the State Government (2020) 

Reading and literacy

See Reading and Literacy Strategic Framework

The benefits of public libraries

• Libraries work! The socio-economic value of public libraries to Victorians (2018)
• Libraries work! The socio-economic value of public libraries to Victorians – key findings (2018) 
• Creative communities: The cultural benefits of Victoria's public libraries (2014) 
• Creative communities: The cultural benefits of Victoria's public libraries: Summary report (2014) 
• Internet and PC usage in Victorian public libraries (2012) 
• Internet and PC usage in Victorian public libraries: Technical report (2012) 
• Dollars, sense and public libraries: the landmark study of the socio-economic value of Victorian public libraries (2011)
• Dollars, sense and public libraries: The landmark study of the socio-economic value of Victorian public libraries: Technical report (2011) 
• Dollars, sense and public libraries: The landmark study of the socio-economic value of Victorian public libraries: Key findings (2011)
• Libraries/building/communities: The vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Executive summary (2005)
• Libraries/building/communities: The vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Report 1 – Setting the scene (2005) 
• Libraries/building/communities: the vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Report 2 – Logging the benefits (2005) 
• Libraries/building/communities: The vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Report 3 – Bridging the gaps (2005) 
• Libraries/building/communities: The vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Report 4 – Showcasing the best (2005) 
• Libraries/building/communities: The vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Report 4 – Showcasing the best volume 2 (2008) 
• Libraries/building/communities: the vital contribution of Victoria's public libraries: Connecting with the community (2008) 

Public Libraries Victoria

Public Libraries Victoria is the peak body for Victorian public library managers, and the State Library’s partner in its sector-wide work. Visit the Public Libraries Victoria website for a wealth of information about Victorian public libraries.