Brimbank libraries: Building a learning community

Abstract

Creating a community of lifelong learners is one of Brimbank City Council's strategic directions for community wellbeing and improving the social and economic outcomes of individuals and the community. Brimbank is a low socio-economic area, and learning supports community aspirations and is used as a driver for positive change. The Brimbank libraries provide significant learning opportunities for community learning as a result of strategic repositioning of the library service. Learning is inherent in the design of library interiors, the collections and programmes. This paper describes the strategic changes and the libraries' approach to supporting community learning, sets the context for this strategic direction, and focuses on learning supported through the libraries' programmes framework. © 2014 Australian Library & Information Association.