Cobar library rates 5th among 90 NSW public libraries

Of the 90 public libraries in NSW, Cobar sits 5th on the list for expenditure per resident for library services.

According to the State Library of NSW statistics from 2021-2022, for Cobar’s estimated population of 4,365 residents, the total expenditure at the Cobar Shire Library $483,578 which equates to a spend of $110.79 per person.

That’s well above the average spend by most NSW libraries of $63.23 per person per annum.

Cobar’s library is also well used with the average number of loans made by each Cobar resident estimated to be 3.45 per capita which is just below the NSW average circulation of 3.69 per capita. (Per capita is the financial year’s worth of circulation divided by the particular library service area’s population.)

Cobar Shire Library Manager Jane Siermans said compared to other libraries across NSW, Cobar’s is well stocked and also well used.

“We are quite small with a modest budget, but I think we perform really well for where we are and what we are,” Jane told The Cobar Weekly.

“I try to balance the budget across all areas.

“I see where there are gaps in a series that need filling and make sure I fill those gaps but I try and spend all across the collection which means everybody gets a little bit of what they want.

“I can’t always give them everything they want because the money has to cover everywhere,” Jane said.

“It also helps that I have a very supportive community who donate a lot of really new titles in very good condition.

“A lot of those new ones that are going in, someone has bought and read them once and then brought it here, so that helps with the budget.”

Jane said the Cobar Library has a lot of passionate users ranging across all age groups.

“There’s still hardcore people who love libraries and love reading and when they move to town, this is where they come.

“I know eBooks are rising, but there’s still plenty of interest with people wanting the hard copy.”

On the recent new items list at the library are 49 new DVDs, 84 adult fiction books, two new Large Print books, a Talking Book, five new biographies, 31 non-fiction books, 17 young adult fiction books, 19 comic books and 35 new children’s books.

The library is now also stocking emagazines.