Clarence Regional Library

Clarence Regional Library is a regional partnership between Clarence Valley and Bellingen Shire libraries.
It spans the bountiful saltwater freshwater countries of Bundjalung, Gumbaynngirr and Yeagl Peoples on the mid-north coast of NSW, Australia.
Clarence Regional Library has seven library branches – Grafton, Yamba, Maclean and Iluka (Clarence Valley); and Bellingen, Urunga and Dorrigo (Bellingen Shire).
A mobile library supports outlying towns and villages across the Clarence Valley.
New and/or refurbished library spaces are planned for Yamba, Maclean and Dorrigo.

Project Sisu worked with Clarence Regional Library (CRL) to develop a ten-year library strategy. After an extensive period of public consultation, the strategy was published in April 2024.
Built around three focal areas – stretch, reimagine, stand out – the strategy contains practical action steps in relation to library spaces, services, collections and people.

Moreover, the strategy aims to be:

• a living strategy – able to adapt to changing circumstances
• practical and aspirational
• able to speak to and amplify the strategic priorities of participating Councils
• a platform for advocacy; adept at framing the benefits and tangible outcomes of the regional library service
• something that resonates with everyone – hopefully, all stakeholders can see themselves in the final product.

Project Sisu thanks everyone who contributed to the strategy making process. In particular, Kathryn Breward, Manager of CRL, and Rowena Sierant, Library Manager, Bellingen Shire.
Read the strategy here.