Newcastle Libraries Ranked Best in NSW for Borrowing, Membership and Access

newy.com.au – Newcastle’s library network has been named the top-performing system in New South Wales, with the City of Newcastle taking first place in several key categories in the State Library of NSW’s latest annual statistics.

In the 2024 financial year, Newcastle Libraries recorded more than 1.7 million loans, the highest number across the state, alongside the largest library membership, which grew to more than 150,000. The city also led NSW in home library services, delivering over 47,000 items to residents unable to visit in person, more than seven times the state average.

Julie Baird, Director of Museum Archive, Libraries and Learning at City of Newcastle, said the results reflected the central role libraries play in the community. “To be leading the state across multiple key areas is a credit to the dedication of our library team and a reflection of the trust and value our communities place in their local libraries,” Ms Baird said.

Newcastle’s home library service stood out as a major contributor to the city’s ranking. “Use of our home library service is more than 600% above the state average, demonstrating our commitment to making library services accessible to all members of the community, regardless of age, mobility or health,” Ms Baird added.

Long-time home library users Jeanette and Peter Lee described the service as a lifeline. “When your world and independence change, having access to books through this service helps protect your mental health,” Mrs Lee said. “Books become companions. In our age group, loneliness is very real, but when you’ve got a book you’ve got a friend.”

The Newcastle Region Library network, which includes partnerships with Port Stephens and Dungog Libraries, holds the state’s largest collection, totalling over one million items. This includes books, maps, artworks, toys, games, and unique historical collections such as “The Stack” and the “Newcastle Collections”.

In addition to lending services, the libraries hosted 2,255 programs and events attended by more than 49,000 people—more than double the state average. Total visitation reached nearly 700,000 across the region’s 13 branches.

The library service also ranked second in NSW for e-audio loans and third for toy and game collection circulation. Facilities available across branches include free Wi-Fi, public computers, quiet reading areas, group meeting spaces, and digitisation labs, alongside innovative offerings such as the Seed Library, Memory Room for dementia support, and digital heritage services.

“Our continued growth reflects City of Newcastle’s ongoing and significant investment in local library services, which provide valuable recreational, educational and social opportunities for all members of our community,” Ms Baird said.