Library Committee & Reports

The next Committee Meeting to be held on the 5th August 2026.

Financial Papers

6.1     YTD Income Statement as of 31 January 2026

6.2     Draft 2026/27 CRL Budget

Executive Officer’s Reports

7.1       Library Service reviews

7.2       Library Agreement

Regional Library Reports 

1. CRL Work Plan report including the following strategies from the Action Plan:

    

   1.2.1 continue to offer a diverse range of learning programs and activities for all ages

   1.2.2 continue to offer reliable and free WIFI across all library spaces and places – libraries and surrounds, mobile library, library pods/kiosks

   1.3.2 continue to modernise technology platforms and access to digital devices /resources

   2.1.6 investigate feasibility of library vending machines outside smaller library locations with reduced opening hours like Iluka and Dorrigo

   2.2.6 build on and expand the link with Clarence Correctional Centre, supporting literacy, reading and entertainment options for inmates and their visitors

   3.3.4 ensure the library staffing cohort reflects demand, locations and additional services

Correspondence
In-coming: various community comments via feedback forms and social media

Out-going:

1. Media Releases:
   • BSC 17/11/2025 Residents invited to keep cool at Council Libraries - https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council/Council-News-Updates/Council-news-updates?dlv_OC%20CL%20Public%20News%20Listing=(pageindex=3)
   • BSC 20/11/2025 Dorrigo Library Branch Officer receives Emerging Leaders Award - https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council/Council-News-Updates/Council-news-updates/Dorrigo-Library-Branch-Officer-Receives-Emerging-Leaders-Award
   • BSC 1/12/2025 Mantova Artworks Return Home to the Bellingen Shire - https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council/Council-News-Updates/Council-news-updates/Mantova-Artworks-Return-Home-to-the-Bellingen-Shire
   • BSC 9/02/2026 Bellingen Shire Seniors Festival 2026 - https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council/Council-News-Updates/Council-news-updates/Bellingen-Shire-Seniors-Festival-2026
   • CVC 25/11/2025 CVC 25/11/2025 Yamba Library and Community Centre – Spaces for every occasion - https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/News-articles/Yamba-Library-and-Community-Centre-Spaces-for-Every-Occasion
   • CVC 16/2/2026 – Help shape your library with service review - https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/News-articles/Help-shape-your-library-with-service-review

Items for Information

North East Zone Library Managers meeting scheduled to be held in Dorrigo on the 5-6 March 2026 was relocated to Lismore as a result of the Waterfall Way land slippages.

Minutes will be available after they are confirmed at the next Committee Meeting

Financial Papers

6.1        YTD Income Statement as of 30 September 2025 with updated budget

Executive Officer’s Reports - nil

Regional Library Reports –

1. CRL Work Plan report including the following strategies from the Action Plan:

   1.2.2    continue to offer reliable and free WIFI across all library spaces and places – libraries and surrounds, mobile library, library pods/kiosks

   1.3.8    further develop and promote collections that support children’s and youth interests and needs.

   2.3.1    find new pathways to publicise and display the Nola Mackey Collection

   2.3.4    develop a digitisation plan and seek grant funding

   3.1.3    redevelop the library website to improve functionality and discoverability of resources and programs

   3.2.3   curate and deliver a biennial Festival of the Rivers, Valleys and Sea - weaving reading, learning, thinking and writing into a travelling festival along our interconnected rivers

    

2. Annual Infographics for 2024/25        

    

Correspondence

1. In-coming:
   1. 15 August 2025 - 2024/25 Public Library Funding Strategy -Bellingen Subsidy & Clarence Valley Subsidy letters

    

• ·various community comments via feedback forms and social media

   

  1. Out-going:        

       

     1. Media Releases: (see details in minutes below)

Download minutes(PDF, 8MB)

5. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 13 March 2025

5.1      CRL Reserve expenditure modelling review

            5.2      Policy updates - Volunteer Policy, Children’s and Young Adult and Internet Policy

            5.3      YTD income Statement as of 31 January 2025   

6. Financial Papers

6.1        YTD Income Statement as at 30 June 2025

6.2        Annual Budget

6.3        LGA Contributions for new Financial Year

7. Executive Officer’s Reports - nil

8. Regional Library Reports –

1. Regional Library Agreement expiry 30 June 2026
2. CRL Work Plan report including the following strategies from the Action Plan:
   1. conduct collection needs assessment

   1.3.7    prioritise the inclusion of First Nations histories, stories, and publications

   3.3.1     review the library service model to ensure congruence with emerging needs and community expectations

9.  Annual Comparative Public Library Statistics

9.1 In-coming:
9.1.1  

• various community comments via feedback forms and social media

9.2 Out-going:

• 9.2.1  Media Releases:
  • CRL 3 February 2025        80^th Birthday of establishment of Library
  • CRL 4 February 2025        On Record – Celebrating our Seniors
  • CVC 4 February 2025       Getcha Game On!
  • CRL 4 March 2025             Live n Loud at the Library
  • CRL 8 April 2025               Local Writers call out 

Download minutes(PDF, 4MB)

5. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 4 December 2024

• 5.1 CRL Reserve Expenditure Projects 2024/25 report dividing Capitol and Operational
• 5.1.a BSC request for an additional $24,000 for replacement of Public PCs 
•  5.2 draft 2025/26 CRL Budget
• 5.3 Policy updates - Volunteer Policy, Children’s and Young Adult and Internet Policy

6. Financial Papers

•  6.1 YTD INCOME STATEMENT as at 31 January 2025

• 7. Executive Officer’s Reports - nil
  
  8. Regional Library Reports –
• 8.1 Regional Library Agreement expiry 30 June 2026
• 8.2 CRL Work Plan report including the following strategies from the Action Plan:
  • 1.3.1 Build collection strengths
  • 1.3.3 Continue to improve the CRL App; the gateway to online resources and programs
  • 2.2.2 expand locations for Storytime, Baby Bounce, Live n Loud, Toddler Time
  • 2.2.9 continue to support language learning - ensure adequate r5.1esources and access to suitable language learning resources
  • 3.1.1 build on CRL branding, marketing, and promotional activities
  • 3.1.2 improve library signage and way finding; in-house and across neighbourhoods
  • 3.1.5 continue to support a cohort of enthusiastic volunteers

• 3.3.4 ensure the library staffing cohort reflects demand, locations and additional services

9 Correspondence

• 9.1 In-coming:
  
  • 9.1.1 Email from Maxine Compton 22 January re CRL Fees and Charges for 2025/26 and response from Regional Librarian 23 January
  • 9.1.2 Email request from Maxine Compton 16/12/2024 re 2025/26 Budget Information for CRL Contributions and response from Regional Librarian 13/1/2025
  • 9.1.3 Email enquiry from Maxine Compton 9/12/2024 re Approved Reserve funds for Computers and response from Regional Librarian 9/12/2024
  • 9.1.4 Letter from Kevin Hogan Federal member for Page re 80th celebrations of the establishment of library services
    • various community comments via feedback forms and social media

9.2 Out-going:

• 9.2.1 Media Releases:
  • 4/12/2024 - CRL - Wonderbooks at your library
  • 16/12/2024 - CRL Youth Performers expression of interest
  • 4/2/2025 - CRL- 80th Anniversary of your Library
  • 21/2/2025 - CRL - On Record - Celebrating our Seniors
  • 24/1/2025 - BSC - Exciting events still to come this summer at Bellingen Shire Libraries
  • 11/11/2024 - BSC - Grand Opening of the newly renovated Dorrigo Library
  • 25/11/2024 - BSC Dorrigo Library celebrates its transformation with Grand Opening
  • 24/1/2025 - BSC - Exciting Events still to come this summer at Bellingen Shire Libraries
  • 13/2/2025 - BSC Bellingen Shire Seniors Festival 2025
• 9.2.2 email sent to Maxine Compton re branding tools as per request from CLR Committee meeting
• 9.2.3 2nd quarter Social media engagement

Download minutes(PDF, 36MB)

4. AGM – Election of Chair and Deputy Chair

7. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 11 July 2024

7.2 Contributions for 2024/25 Financial Year

7.3 Annual Budget

8. Financial Papers

8.1 INCOME STATEMENT as at 30 June 2024

8.2 INCOME STATEMENT as at 30 September 2024

10. Regional Library Reports

10.1 Library Highlights 2023/24 Infographics with summary and comparison

10.2 Update of State Library Review

10.3 Update on CRL Workplan

10.4 Review of CRL Policies: Children’s and Young Adult Policy, Volunteer Policy and Internet Policy

11 Correspondence

11.1 In-coming:

11.1.2 email from Maxine Compton 29 July re Minutes & response from Regional Librarian 5 August

11.1.3 Email request from Maxine Compton to use CRL Reserve funds for new Dorrigo Library Public access PCs 30 August and Regional Librarians response 2 September

11.1.4 BSC and CVC State Library Subsidy Letters for 2024/25 

11.2 Out-going:

11.2.1 Media Releases:

20241002 - CVC – Jacaranda Colouring Comp

20240927 – CVC – then and now – Service women and men of the Clarence Valley

20241003 - CRL – Golden ticket

20240913 – CRL – Cosplay at your library

20241024 – BSC - Simplify your life with the “less is more” workshop at Bellingen Library

20241024 – BSC – Goldren ticket competition clarence valley and Bellingen Shire Libraries

11.2.2 1st quarter Social media engagement

Download minutes(PDF, 16MB)

5. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 14 March 2024

5.1 CRL Strategic Plan & Action Plan 2024-2034 adoption

5.2 Library Highlights infographic comparison with 2022/24 and 2018/19

6 Financial Papers

6.1 YTD Quarter Income and Expenditure Spreadsheet

6.2 Contributions for 2024/25 financial year

6.3 Annual Budget 

8 Regional Library Reports 

8.1 Review of CRL Collection Development Policy

8.2 Review of CRL Fee Waiving Policy

8.3 Annual State Library Statistics Comparison Report

8.4 CRL Committee Draft Workplan 2024 – 2026

8.5 Digital Engagement workload update

9.2.1 Media Releases:

BSC 20240301 Bellingen Library Hosts Riveting Climate Fiction Conversation

BSC 20240605 Bellingen Library hosts monthly write-in events for local writers

CRL 20240229 On Record 2024

CRL 20240304 CRL Strategic Plan – on exhibition

CRL 20240304 Media Blast On Record 2024

CRL 20240318 Live n Loud at your library

CRL 20240411 April Monthly Newsletter

CRL 20240419 Hurray for Hoopla!

CRL 20240514 May monthly Newsletter

CRL 20240527 First Nations Computer Classes Program

CRL 20240605 June monthly Newsletter

CVC 20240319 10 Years at Grafton Library

CVC 20240328 Media Blast – 10 years at Grafton Library

CVC 20240426 Media Blast - Authors talks at your library

CVC 20240617 Cathryn Hein Author Talk

CVC 20240617 Media Blast - Cathryn Hein Author Talk

 Download minutes(PDF, 7MB)

5. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 14 December 2023

5.1 CRL Strategic Plan & Action Plan 2023-2033 progress

6 Financial Papers

6.1 YTD Quarter Income and Expenditure Spreadsheet - 9 November2023

6.2 YTD Quarter Income and Expenditure Spreadsheet - 14 March 2024

8 Regional Library Reports

8.1 Library Highlights 2022/23 Infographics with summary and comparison

8.2 Update of State Library Review

8.3 Review of CRL Collection Development Policy

8.4 Review of CRL Fee Waiving Policy

9 Correspondence

9.1 In-coming:

9.2 Out-going:

9.2.1 Media Releases:

BSC – 20/11/2023 In a Timeless Story – A Collaboration

CRL – 16/11/2023 Summer Reading Club

CRL – 13/11/2023 Live n Loud is back at the library

CVC – 28/9/2023 Jacaranda at your library

CRL – 26/9/2023 Mini Writer’s Festival

BSC – 21/9/2023 Spring School Holiday

CRL – 31/7/2023 Vision Australia PC Keyboards for your library

Download minutes(PDF, 12MB)

CRL-Committee-14-December-2023-MINUTES.pdf(PDF, 199KB)

5. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 28 July 2023

5.1 CRL Strategic Plan & Action Plan 2023-2033 progress

6 Financial Papers

6.1 YTD Quarter Income and Expenditure Spreadsheet

8 Regional Library Reports

8.1 Library Highlights 2022/23 Infographics with summary and comparison

8.2 Update of State Library Review

9 Correspondence

9.1 In-coming:

9.2 Out-going:

9.2.1 Media Releases:

CVC – 28/9/2023 Jacaranda at your library

CRL – 26/9/2023 Mini Writer’s Festival

BSC – 21/9/2023 Spring School Holiday

CRL – 31/7/2023 Vision Australia PC Keyboards for your library

5. Business arising from the Minutes – Meeting Held 3 March 2023

5.1  CRL Strategic Plan & Action Plan 2023-2033 progress

6 Financial Papers

6.1 YTD Quarter Income and Expenditure Spreadsheet

6.2 Contributions for 2023/24 financial year

6.3 Annual Budget

8 Regional Library Reports 

8.1 Annual State Library Statistics Comparison Report

8.2 Branding Style Guide

8.3 Membership Brochure

9 Correspondence

9.1 In-coming:

 Download minutes(PDF, 21MB)

CRL-Committee-3-March-2023-MINUTES-brief.pdf(PDF, 276KB)

CRL-Committee-4-November-2022-full-MINUTES.pdf(PDF, 8MB)

CRL-Committee-13-May-2022-MINUTES.pdf(PDF, 17MB)

CRL-Committee-18-March-2022-MINUTES-revision-1.pdf(PDF, 10MB)