Council
24 June, 2025
Extended opening hours granted
Library users will soon have access to the facilities in Horsham Library until midnight, seven days a week, as the recently secured funding will be allocated towards the Open Access Fit-Out initiative.
The library has secured $39,333 in funding from the State Government as part of its Living Libraries Infrastructure Project (LLIP).
The LLIP project supports regional library corporations and local Councils with funding to enhance library services for their communities.
The recently secured funding will enable the library to undergo upgrades, including CCTV, automatic doors, motion detection, automatic lighting, and keypad entry.
The community will have access to computers, printers, books, DVDs, and study areas around the clock after the upgrades.
Wimmera Libraries coordinator Sarah Wiesner said the extension of the opening hours is a win for the community.
“This project is all about addressing direct community feedback,” she said.
“When we last consulted the community, there was overwhelming support for extended opening hours, especially during the Summer months where it serves as a refuge from the heat, and on weeknights and weekends, so that working families are not excluded.
“The community has consistently told Council and the former Corporation that opening hours are the single biggest barrier to access.
“The Open Access project aims to remove this barrier for everybody.”
It is hoped that extended access to library services will support residents’ educational and recreational needs, without restricting use to daylight hours.