Australian Public Libraries: Growth And What Comes Next

Australia’s Public Libraries Are Growing. How Do We Sustain That Growth?

27 October 2026

By Veronica Steinicke, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Bibliotheca

Australia’s public libraries have plenty to celebrate.

The latest Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report 2024–25, released in September by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), shows that Australians are engaging with their libraries in growing numbers and in more ways than ever.

In just one year, physical and online visits increased by 8.5%, reaching more than 160 million. This includes 90.5 million visits to library buildings and 70 million website visits. Libraries also recorded nearly 180 million loans, while a record 434,000 programs attracted 7.2 million attendees.

These figures are encouraging, particularly for those of us who have spent many years working alongside libraries and seeing how their services continue to evolve.

But another finding deserves just as much attention. While demand is increasing, library funding has declined.

That raises one of the most important questions facing our industry: How do we support libraries in meeting growing community expectations while ensuring their services, teams, and resources remain sustainable?

Libraries are becoming more important in more ways

What stands out in this year’s report is the variety of ways Australians are engaging with their libraries.

Physical collections remain incredibly important, accounting for 119 million loans. At the same time, digital borrowing reached 61 million loans, with digital collection use increasing by 80% over the past five years.

The figures reinforce something we see across the library sector: people want choice in how they access information, collections and services.

For some, that means visiting a branch to discover new books, participate in a community program, or find a welcoming space to learn and connect. For others, it means downloading an audiobook, accessing resources online, or collecting a reserved item at a time that works around their schedule.

Libraries are responding to these different needs while continuing to provide the personal connections that make them so valuable.

The growth in community activities tells a similar story.

The report shows that library meeting spaces were used for 938,000 hours in 2024–25, an increase of 24% in just one year. Program sessions and attendance have also almost doubled over five years.

Behind those numbers are opportunities for people to learn, meet, participate and feel connected to their communities.

I believe this broader role should be central to how we think about the future of public libraries. Collections will always be important, but so are the spaces, relationships and opportunities libraries make possible.

Growing demand needs sustainable support

Of course, increased engagement also brings greater operational demands.

According to the report, overall public library funding decreased by 0.6% in 2024–25 to $1.383 billion. When adjusted for inflation, expenditure per person has fallen by 13% over five years. Staffing levels also declined slightly.

These figures deserve attention alongside the positive results.

Library teams are managing busy spaces, growing digital collections, diverse community programs and changing expectations around access. All of this requires people, time and resources.

Technology can help libraries manage some of these pressures. More efficient circulation processes, convenient self-service options and flexible access models can give staff greater capacity to focus on activities where their expertise and personal attention make the biggest difference.

But technology cannot replace the value of knowledgeable library professionals or the need for sustained investment in public library services.

The question should always be how a new approach supports the library’s priorities and the people it serves.

For library leaders, that means making thoughtful decisions about where to invest. For councils, funding bodies and industry partners, it means recognising that growing demand must be matched with the support required to deliver quality services.

Innovation starts with understanding the community

One of the most rewarding aspects of working in the library industry is seeing how differently libraries respond to the needs of their communities.

There is no single model that works everywhere.

In New South Wales, for example, Blue Mountains Library worked with Bibliotheca to improve access across a region where geography can make visiting a library difficult.

Under the leadership of its library team and in partnership with Blue Mountains City Council, the service introduced collection lockers in more remote communities, alongside improvements to self-service and collection management across its branches.

The strength of this example is that the project began with a clear understanding of local needs. The library wanted to reach residents who faced practical barriers to accessing its services, and the technology helped make that possible.

Another example is Sutherland Shire Libraries in southern Sydney, Australia, which introduced Bibliotheca’s open+ solution at two branches, including Kirrawee Library+. The goal was to provide greater flexibility for people who couldn’t visit during regular opening hours.

At Kirrawee, extended access added approximately 42 hours of library availability each week. By May 2026, 584 members had registered for out-of-hours access, with nearly 3,000 uses recorded since the service began in November 2025.

The results show how a clear understanding of community needs can guide practical decisions that make library services more accessible.

Across Asia Pacific, communities face different circumstances. Some libraries serve dense urban populations, while others support rural and geographically dispersed communities. Some are planning new facilities, while others are finding ways to extend the value of existing spaces and resources.

At Bibliotheca, our role is to work alongside these libraries, understand their priorities and help identify practical ways to achieve them.

Sometimes that means improving everyday workflows so staff have more time for community engagement. In other cases, it means extending access beyond traditional opening hours or making borrowing more convenient.

What matters is the outcome for the library and its community, rather than the technology itself.

Blue Mountains Library expands access with remoteLockers and RFID technology, ensuring residents in remote areas can borrow and return materials anytime.

Looking ahead

Australia’s latest library statistics offer a positive picture of a sector that continues to grow and adapt.

They also remind us that this progress is being made possible by dedicated library professionals, community partnerships and continued investment in services that people clearly value.

As we consider what comes next, three priorities deserve particular attention: supporting library teams, making access more inclusive and flexible, and ensuring that investments deliver meaningful value for communities.

After more than two decades in the library technology industry, I remain optimistic about what lies ahead. There are many opportunities to help libraries reach more people, strengthen their services and respond to changing needs.

And those opportunities are best realised when library leaders, councils, communities and industry partners work together.

The growth reflected in this report is worth celebrating. Our shared responsibility now is to give libraries the support they need to build on it.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

How is your library responding to these changes? I’d love to hear your perspective and learn what’s working in your community. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

By Veronica Steinicke, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Bibliotheca