Annual Report 2019/20 Our Vision We connect, empower and inspire our communities. Our Mission To deliver library services that are accessible, relevant and support the social, cultural and economic needs of our communities. Our Values Community Teamwork Innovation Respect Annual Report 2019/20 1 Contents From the Chairperson and CEO 2 About Goulburn Valley Libraries 4 Our Board 5 Governance 7 Our People 8 Highlights 11 COVID-19 13 Library Operations 15 Online Library 21 Collections 23 Library Performance 2019/20 27 Directory 33 2 Goulburn Valley Libraries From the Chairperson and CEO We are pleased to provide this At Board level we said farewell joint report as Chairperson and to Cr Seema Abdullah who CEO of Goulburn Valley Libraries. achieved the Mayorship of Greater Shepparton City Council and Cr The year 2020 will forever be Kate Stothers who left Strathbogie remembered as the year of Shire Council to pursue the COVID-19 global pandemic alternative roles. Thank you both and this has impacted heavily for your commitment and valued on delivery of our services and contributions to the Corporation. Gary Cleveland operations during 2019/20. Chairperson We welcomed Cr Bruce Giovanetti We moved quickly from business (Greater Shepparton City as usual to COVID-19 Response Council) and Cr Alistair Thomson and Recovery mode in mid March (Strathbogie Shire Council) to our 2020 as government mandated Board. restrictions were imposed. The Board provided strong Our COVID-19 Response and governance to the Corporation Recovery is detailed separately and oversaw and guided several in this Annual Report. We are activities and highlights including: so proud of the way our staff responded to this crisis to ensure • Improving services to small Kevin Preece patron and staff safety while rural communities project CEO continuing to provide essential • A revised Mobile Library community services, albeit Schedule modified to adhere to restrictions. • Reviewing the Risk Framework Despite the pandemic impact we including developing Risk have continued to deliver on our Appetite Statements Library Plan objectives, where possible, and 2019/20 can be • Development of a new remembered for some significant Business Continuity Plan highlights and achievements. • Tatura Library redevelopment funding and fundraising • Championed development of an Employee Health and Wellbeing program Annual Report 2019/20 3 • Reviewed our first Employee We would like to thank our Board Our touring exhibition at the Satisfaction Survey members for their ongoing Shepparton Library, “They cannot commitment to Goulburn Valley take the sky” • Initiated the development of a was disrupted by Libraries. They have coped monthly email Newsletter COVID-19 but we will continue extremely well in handling to pursue events and exhibitions • Reviewed the Customer Survey the challenges the COVID-19 that support our mission and • Reviewed the implementation pandemic has confronted them provide opportunities for our of Collections HQ (collections with and they have adapted well communities to engage with the planning and monitoring to our remote Zoom meetings. library. software) Our membership remained stable We have continued to support • Reviewed the Code of despite COVID-19 shutdowns. the state wide “Libraries Change Conduct, Procurement Policy, Loans of physical items (books, Lives” advocacy campaign. This Collections Policy DVDs etc) were lower but our campaign has lifted the profile of loans of eBooks, eAudios and libraries throughout the state and • The transition of the Joseph video streaming grew while made a clear case for additional Furphy Literary Awards to a everyone was grounded. funding to the State Government National competition. through a strong submission to A highlight has been the • Negotiated reappointment the State Budget. successful temporary re-location and renewal of the CEO of the Tatura Library to rented We would like to thank our contract for a further two years premises at 155A Hogan Street dedicated staff for their continued • The transition from the SWIFT Tatura. Our staff managed a service, advice and commitment Library consortium to “Libraries herculean effort to move all to our communities throughout a Victoria”, now a business unit of furniture, shelving and stock and most extraordinary year. Public Libraries Victoria set up in our new location within We commend this report to a week; substantially reducing the • COVID-19 response and our stakeholders, our first joint impact to Tatura patrons. recovery Chairperson and CEO report. We hosted our first ever Rainbow • Delivered a strong financial As the current Chairman I wish Storytime as part of the Greater result – helped by COVID-19 to announce that this will be my Shepparton “Out in the Open” shutdowns last year on the Goulburn Valley festival and in support of our Libraries Board so I sincerely • Supported the planning and diverse community. Frock Hudson wish to thank the CEO Kevin funding application for the was a delight and she provided Preece for the good job that proposed new Yarrawonga great entertainment for the kids he has done as the leader of Library. and parents alike. Goulburn Valley Libraries. 4 Goulburn Valley Libraries About Goulburn Valley Libraries Goulburn Valley Libraries provides library services We operate 10 libraries by agreement in the towns to the communities in the municipalities of of Cobram, Euroa, Mooroopna, Nagambie, Nathalia, Greater Shepparton City Council, Moira Shire Numurkah, Tatura, Violet Town, Yarrawonga and the and Strathbogie Shire. We serve a population city of Shepparton. We also operate a Mobile Library of 107,2041 people over an area of 9,7721 square service that serves smaller towns and communities kilometres. within the region. A Central Administration centre in Shepparton supports the library operations by providing shared support services and logistics. Library Mobile library service Bearii Moira Shire Strathmerton Cobram Barmah Picola Katunga Waaia Yarrawonga Nathalia Katamatite Numurkah Tungamah Tallygaroopna St James Katandra West Sirius College Dookie Merrigum Shepparton Greater Mooroopna Shepparton South Shepparton Tatura Toolamba Murchison Strathbogie Violet Town Shire Nagambie Euroa Longwood Strathbogie Avenel 1 ABS Population statistics, June 2019 Annual Report 2019/20 5 Our Board Moira Shire Strathbogie Shire Greater Shepparton City Council Cr Gary Cleveland Cr Alistair Thomson Cr Bruce Giovanetti Chairperson (Joined February 2020) Deputy Chairperson (joined February 2020) Ms Sally Rice Cr Kate Stothers Cr Seema Abdullah Executive representative (retired November 2019) (retired November 2019) Ms Alex Monk Mr David Roff Mrs Kaye Thomson Community representative Executive representative Executive representative Ms Amanda Tingay Mr Derek Poulton Community representative Community representative 6 Goulburn Valley Libraries Our Corporation is governed by the Goulburn Board Meeting Attendance Valley Libraries Board. The Board is made up of nine representatives: a Councillor, an Executive representative and a Community representative from each municipality. The Board met on five occasions throughout 2019/20 including two meetings held remotely via Zoom. This became allowable under directions from the Minister for Local Government due to COVID-19 restrictions. Meetings Board attended Finance & Audit Committee meetings attended CEO Performance Matters Committee Cr Seema Abdullah retired as Greater Shepparton Cr Gary Cleveland 5 - 1 City Council representative in November 2019 and Cr Cr Bruce Giovanetti 2 - - Bruce Giovanetti was nominated to replace her. Cr Seema Abdullah 2 - 1 Cr Kate Stothers retired as the Strathbogie Shire’s representative in November 2019 and Cr Alistair Cr Alistair Thomson 3 - - Thomson was nominated as her replacement. Cr Kate Stothers 1 - 1 Cr Gary Cleveland was elected Chairperson from David Roff 5 5 - November 2019. Cr Bruce Giovanetti was appointed as Deputy Chairperson in February 2020. Sally Rice 5 5 - The Finance and Audit Committee membership Kaye Thomson 4 4 - is made up of the three Senior Executive Derek Poulton 5 - - representatives from each member Council. The current membership includes David Roff Alex Monk 4 - - (Chairperson), Ms Kaye Thomson and Ms Sally Rice. Amanda Tingay 5 - - The CEO Performance Matters Committee is formed from the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Board members also attended numerous and a Shire Executive Officer, currently David Roff, community and associated library events and ensuring representation from each Council. This other library project meetings. committee meets as and when required to review CEO performance, remuneration and contract. Annual Report 2019/20 7 Governance Equal Employment Opportunity How we Managed our Risks We continue to have a strong focus on equal The Corporation manages some of its more employment opportunity with measures in place significant risks through appropriate insurances. to ensure the workplace is free of discrimination We have placed our required insurances with: and harassment. • MAV Insurance Liability Insurance for Public and No complaints have been lodged with the Products Liability and Professional Indemnity Equal Opportunity Commission about the • Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pty Ltd for Industrial Corporation’s activities. Special Risks (i.e Assets), Directors’ and Officers’ Liability, and Personal Accident – Corporate Travel Protected Disclosure • EML Insurance for Workcover Insurance We are committed to the aims and objectives • Zurich for Motor