Libraries Change Lives

Share your story of how libraries have changed your life and be part of a campaign that highlights the positive impact of Victorian public libraries.

Darebin Libraries has joined the state wide advocacy campaign Libraries Change Lives - a state wide project developed by the Public Libraries Victoria Network and the State Library Victoria.

The campaign is designed to build community support and attract additional state government funding for the state’s 272 public libraries that bring in more than 30 million visitors per year.

Want to show your support?

Share your story of how our libraries have changed your life online or tell your story to our friendly staff members next time you visit one of our libraries.

Libraries Change Lives stories


Thank you to our wonderful customer Nicholas for this poignant and moving recollection which shows the power public libraries have to support their communities:

“The Library is an important destination where many gather to experience a sense of community. Ten years ago on Black Saturday as temperatures soared so did the number of people coming to Gower St.

Access to the Library was standing room only, many seating on the floor. The heat, wind, smell of fire and smoke that turned day to darkness brought about fear shared by everyone present. Staff announcement assured that the cool change was on the way.

At closing as we walked through the broken branches covering the ground around the gumtrees we could see tar melting on the road. The cool change had reached outer Melbourne in the West.

On this day many of us realised that at the Library we found security and assurance through a strong sense of community.”