Leichhardt Library Service Annual Report 2007-2008
The provision by Council of library services to the Leichhardt community continues to evolve. Significant areas of growth this year have been the public demand for recreational and educational information and assistance in locating information. The continuing and increasing provision of children’s library services reflects the changing demographics of the community. The commencement of the refurbishment and extension of the Balmain Library shall on completion, provide a substantial increase to the social capital of the local community.
David Marshall
Director - Corporate & Information Services
Leichhardt Council
Highlights
The closure of Balmain Town Hall for refurbishment and the temporary relocation of Balmain Library into the old John McMahon Centre resulted in an anticipated reduced level of usage of the Balmain Library’s services. Balmain Library’s loans decreased by 17.5%; proportionately visits by the public reduced by 25%.
The relocation of Balmain Library to the smaller temporary premise impacted across all level of services delivered to the public; reduced borrowing collections and suspension of all activities e.g. children’s programmes.
The popularity of audio visual items continues to increase, loans increasing by 11.3%
The introduction of Aurora, the new library management system, has provided a welcome level of web catalogue access for the public, which is reflected in the 724,041 items searched via the web.
During this year the talented and enthusiastic Children’s Service Team provided 388 programmes for 18,956 library users.
Baby Bounce, a popular programme for the under 2s, due to community demand has increased to three sessions weekly. Each week 90 local babies enjoy a half hour session of Rhythm, Rhyme and Music to help develop language and pre literacy skills.
The demand for information and guidance in locating information continues to increase. This year Leichhardt Library Service staff answered 53,740 public information enquiries; a 23% increase compared to the previous year.
Exhibitions covered a variety of topics and media: Italian Café Culture, Land and Seascapes by Kathleen Arundell, History Week, Paintings by Catherine Webb, From the Backblocks to the Frontlines: Italian Culture, Mexico Photographs by Patricia Bailie, 100 years of women in paid and unpaid work, Pioneer Park Photographs by Mick Scott, Paintings by Jennie Holtsbaum & Julia Kennedy-Hall
Author talks were given by Thomas McKinnon, Richard Walsh, Philippe Legrain, Jonathon Drane, Jane Mundy and Lisa Forrest.
The community made 136 suggestions for service improvements and book purchases.
Staff development included participation in the Cataloguer’s Seminar, National Technician’s Conference, First Aid, Teamwork Workshop, E Resources, Web 2.0, Where 2 with Web 2.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, EEO and the National Oral History Conference.
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Key Performance Indicators
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2007-2008
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2006-2007
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2005-2006
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Loans
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Adult
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Non Fiction
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70,322
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70,982
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76,312
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Fiction
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82,364
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85,540
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74,745
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Italian
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4,558
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5,022
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5,863
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Paperbacks
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24,626
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28,133
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23,777
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Magazines
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32,471
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33,747
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22,687
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Audio Visual
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124,448
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111,802
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86,719
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Inter Library Loans
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1,311
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1,564
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1,083
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Young Adult
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Non Fiction*
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518
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1,371
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1,592
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Fiction
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5,751
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6,244
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4,548
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Paperback
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2,664
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3,330
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2,146
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HSC
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2,053
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2,671
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2,596
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Audio Visual
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1,605
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1,039
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683
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Children's
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Non Fiction
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25,284
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25,889
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18,104
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Fiction
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26,487
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25,803
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23,913
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Italian
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1,035
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1,029
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1,123
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Picture books
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75,369
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72,493
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68,733
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Audio Visual
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34,917
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35,728
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31,211
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Toys
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8,444
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7,700
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6,762
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Total
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524,227
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520,087
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452,597
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Door Count
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Leichhardt Library
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165,193
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165,568
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163,091
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Balmain Library
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78,489
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104,571
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103,424
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Total
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243,682
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270,139
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266,515
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IT Usage
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Library Web Catalogue searches
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724,041
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179,532
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*155,472
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LINCS - Community Info searches
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15,973
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11,444
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9,367
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Public Internet bookings
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46,723
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45,759
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47,484
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Total
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786,737
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236,735
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56,851
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*BookPlus
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Reservations and Inter Library Loans
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Reservations collected
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8,852
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9,189
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5,755
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Reservations uncollected
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3,491
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4,003
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1,301
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Lent to other libraries
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1,634
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1,431
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774
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Borrowed from other libraries
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1,747
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1,389
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966
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Total
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15,724
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16,012
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8,796
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* discontinued collection now ANF
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Reader Services
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Information Requests
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Leichhardt
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39,933
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31,518
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28,918
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Balmain
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13,807
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11,966
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13,211
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Children's Information Requests
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520
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Information Request success rate
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87.42%
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92.00%
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90.50%
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Authors Talks
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6
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11
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2
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Community Notices displayed (new)
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1,090
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Displays
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30
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67
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48
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Internet Classes
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28
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18
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14
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Children Services
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Storytelling/ Baby Bounce
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Sessions
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228
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209
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191
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Attendance
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14,492
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9,026
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6,743
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Primary School
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Sessions
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108
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99
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127
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Attendance
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3,165
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2,108
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3,038
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High School
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Sessions
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13
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9
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10
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Attendance
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471
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270
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308
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Holiday Activities
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Sessions
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39
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27
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24
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Attendance
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828
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651
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556
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Total
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388/18,956
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344/12,055
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352/10,645
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Historical Services
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Stock:
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Monographs
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5,325
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5,448
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5,062
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Digital image/photographs
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(Approx)
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8,000
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8,000
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8,000
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Oral Histories
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61
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70
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70
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Community Archive Collection
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1,062
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20
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20
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Information Requests
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Local History
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654
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758
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808
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Family History
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162
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169
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186
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Exhibitions
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9
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9
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9
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Activities
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Sessions
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2
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2
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3
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Attendance
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309
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927
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122
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Home Library Service
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Loans
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5,629
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7,010
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2,977
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Membership
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Institutions
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6
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7
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7
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Individuals
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112
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23,862
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108
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Membership
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Balmain
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9,756
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11,792
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10,349
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Leichhardt
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21,390
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23,862
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20,152
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Total
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31,146
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35,654
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30,501
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Collection Resource Allocation
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Expenditure
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Balmain
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95
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111
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101
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% of budget
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Leichhardt
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92
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102
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104
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Income - YTD
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Fees and Charges
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42,208
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38,622
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38,425
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Book Sales & Printing
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44,193
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38,275
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27,216
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Library subsidy
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171,204
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181,457
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162,514
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Total
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257,604
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258,354
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228,155
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Library Resources
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* Stock take adjustment 2884
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Stock
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121,368
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112,392
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113,743
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Items added
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23,880
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27,023
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12,250
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Items deleted
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23,785
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18,047
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10,717
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Total Stock
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121,463
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121,368
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*112,392
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