Libraries mobilising for thriving, liveable communities

Cherished community hubs across Queensland, libraries have long been offering access to information, learning resources, programs, connection—and a free place to enjoy wi-fi and air conditioning. But their contribution to thriving, liveable communities goes well beyond their walls. 

Libraries extend their reach through mobile libraries, pop-up stalls, and a wide range of outreach activities that foster deeper community engagement. Staff actively bring library services to people where they are—festivals, schools, hospitals, aged care homes, government offices, and even local parks. 

Some standout examples include Balonne Library’s drop-off and pick-up service for rural properties and Scenic Rim’s popular 'Llamas and Lattes' event. Pop-up stalls add to the vibrancy of local festivals like Burdekin’s Water Festival, Gayndah’s Orange Festival, Mundubbera’s Blueberry Festival, the Tambo Stock Show, and sporting events in Bulloo. 

Children’s programming also reaches beyond library walls. Emerald Library hosts a Teddy Bear Picnic; Mount Isa Library travels two hours to visit Camooweal State School; and Goondiwindi Library partners with local Indigenous organisations to deliver First Nations activities. Many of these outreach programs include mobile libraries, allowing people to borrow items on the spot. 

Mobile libraries are a vital lifeline for residents in remote or underserved areas, bridging the gap in access to services. Mackay’s mobile library (pictured), for instance, hosts craft sessions, literacy days, and coffee mornings in the region’s rural communities. 

From Biloela in Banana Shire to Redland Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Scenic Rim, Toowoomba, and Townsville, mobile and outreach services make library programs more inclusive and accessible. These efforts reflect the evolving role of libraries as dynamic centres of community connection, support, and lifelong learning. 

State Library’s enduring partnership with local government delivers more than 325 public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) across Queensland. In every bustling city and town, libraries and IKCs are social, cultural and digital hubs that offer much more than you think.