The LBW Trust in collaboration with Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA), is pleased to announce that 79 country libraries throughout regional, rural and remote Australia are the recipients of much needed funding through the Trust’s Australian Country Libraries 2024 Program.

Libraries in remote areas serve as essential community hubs where people can gather, learn and connect.

$101,429.16 was distributed to 79 libraries (NSW 25; QLD 8; VIC 9; SA 17; WA  20) to support a diverse range of projects including: back to nature programs; storytelling through puppetry; resources and activities for neurodivergent young people; textile waste awareness workshops; digital literacy programs for seniors; and a community seed library for bush fire affected Snowy Monaro area.

Port Pirie Regional Library was one of the 79 libraries to receive funding under The LBW Trust and FOLA Australian Country Libraries 2024 Program.

“The library received $500 to buy Lego kits so we could have a family event Lego Challenge with the theme Future Cities. We are so grateful to receive this funding from The LBW Trust and Friends of Libraries Australia. It makes a huge difference for small, rural communities such as ours," said Charmaine Burton, Library Services Coordinator who made the initial application.

“Cricket holds a special place in Australia and it is wonderful to be able to combine our love of cricket with supporting country libraries” says The LBW Trust Director and National Backyard Cricket Chair Marek Ristwej. “Funding has been made possible by the generous donations of individuals who participated in our National Backyard Cricket events, plus great support from The LBW Trust supporters. We look forward to seeing the projects come to life and the difference they will make in their community.”

FOLA President Jack Goodman says “Country libraries are at the heart of the community, providing havens where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to share ideas, learn new skills and connect with each other. These grants are another example of the exceptional projects being run by Australia’s under-funded and under-valued country public libraries.”

Please view the following link to see children from Beverly Library, WA sharing their favourite thing about Junior Book Club: https://www.facebook.com/reel/7611035848986656

About Us – The LBW Trust

The LBW (Learning for a Better World) Trust believes that everyone deserves an education, every student deserves to realise their potential and to create their own future. Established in 2006 we have supported more than 15,000 disadvantaged students in cricket-playing developing nations receive a tertiary or vocational education. We have also supported more than 150 country libraries throughout Australia to help them deliver projects within their community.

Through partnering with reputable and well-established NGOs and educational institutions, we currently support over 2,500 students in developing countries including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Indonesia. Education empowers and improves lives - directly benefiting the student, and their family, and enabling them to become an agent for change. When these students graduate, we hope that they will play an important role in shaping the future of their communities and nations.

Through National Backyard Cricket events we bring communities together to raise vital funds for country libraries throughout Australia to help them deliver projects within their community.

www.lbwtrust.com.au

The LBW Trust General Manager: Emma Bromley emma@lbwtrust.com.au M 0423 000 815

About Us – Friends of Libraries Australia

Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) is the peak body representing Australia’s 13 million public library members. FOLA supports the development of local Friends groups who, in turn, support their local libraries across Australia.

More broadly defined, friends are an essential part of the fabric of public libraries.

Today, demographic, economic and technological change require us to rethink what it means to be a Friend. In the 1990s, Friends groups were instrumental in helping libraries raise funds, provide services, advocate for facilities, and much more.

Today we are reimagining FOLA’s mission as the national voice and advocate for Australia’s exceptional, yet under-recognised and under-appreciated, public libraries. We are particularly focused on country libraries because they face systemic disadvantage due to their isolated locations and the small populations they serve. We hope you will join us on this journey and do your part to speak up in support of your local library. Please take time to download, read and share our recently published report: Overlooked, Underfunded, Outsized Social and Economic Impact: Why Australia Needs to Invest in Country Libraries.

FOLA is part of a worldwide network of Friend’s associations, found in many countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea and New Zealand.

www.fola.org.au

FOLA President: Jack Goodman jack@fola.org.au M 0422 386 508