The Wimmera Regional Library Corporation is situated in the northwest of Victoria, Australia. It covers an area of approximately 36,800 km2. and serves two local government bodies -Horsham Rural City Council and West Wimmera Shire Council, with a combined population of approximately 23,700. As these figures indicate, its clientele is predominantly rural-based and often has considerable distances between centres.
The Wimmera Regional Library operates 5 static branches in Edenhope, Goroke, Harrow, Horsham and Kaniva.
History
In the 1860s the first library was located in the Mechanics Institute in Horsham on the corner of Firebrace and Wilson streets, then in a building in Firebrace Street. In 1872 it moved to a timber building between Pynsent Street and Roberts Avenue, where it lost many books and records in a fire in 1908. When the library re-opened in 1909 it was in a new building in Pynsent street. In 1937 the name was changed from institute library to Horsham Public Library (the Horsham Mechanics Institute being the first in country Victoria to become a public library). It was called a "free library" although only subscribers could borrow, non-subscribers were allowed to read on the premises.
World War II postponed plans to consign the library to the council as a municipal project, but in April 1949 the Horsham City Council took over control of the Mechanics Institute. They financed the library, and conducted it as a municipal free library – "City of Horsham Free Library" under a liberal subsidy from the State Government. The Institute building became Council property and was renovated and extended.
In 1951 the Wimmera Shire joined the Horsham City Council in financing the Library. An approach was made to the State Government Library Board in 1955 and in 1957 the Horsham Public Library was established, and The Wimmera & Dunmunkle Shires joined – the Library was then known as "The Horsham & Dunmunkle Municipal Libraries". (Wimmera Shire residents used the City resources until the introduction of the Bookmobile in 1967) In 1962 Lowan and Kaniva Shires joined.
After many meetings and discussions between the Shires and the Library Board, the inaugural meeting of the Wimmera Regional Library Service was held in June 1966 and the WRLS formed. From October 1966 it included the Shires of Arapiles, Birchip, Donald, Dunmunkle, Kaniva, Karkarooc, Lowan, Wimmera & Warracknabeal and Horsham City Council. With the joining of Birchip, Donald, Karkarooc & Warracknabeal Shires, the Library Service now covered a total of 10 municipalities, with an area of 7,871 square miles (18,000sq km) and a population of 40,694 people. Branches were at Horsham, Kaniva, Minyip, Murtoa, Nhill & Rupanyup. The Bookmobile opened in June 1967 operating in Birchip, Donald & Karkarooc Shires, and sites were at Birchip town & schools, Watchupga, Donald town & schools, Watchem, Hopetoun town & schools, Beulah town & schools, Lascelles, Patchewollock, Speed, Tempy & Woomelang. At this time the Addressograph Libromatic Scheme replaced the Browne System, this involved new book & borrower cards and complete borrower re-registration.
In March 1968 the bookmobile began service in Arapiles Shire. An offer of bookmobile service to Dunmunkle was rejected in 1969–70, however early in 1977 it was trialled, and this time the offer was accepted and the Minyip & Murtoa branches were closed in March 1981 and their stock transferred to Rupanyup.
In January 1975 a Library Council report into the Stawell Library joining the Wimmera Regional Library Service was released, but no further action was taken. Further discussions in March 1976 also stalled due to a lack of financial support from the Library Council.
Discussions began with the Shires of Kowree and Kara Kara and the Town of St Arnaud in June 1983 about the possibility of them joining the library service. Following their decision to join, service began on 1 October 1984 to St Arnaud Town and the Kara Kara Shire. The Kowree Shire Library amalgamated with the WRLS in March 1986. A Mobile service was provided to Goroke with branches in Edenhope, Harrow and a joint-use facility in Apsley (Apsley closed on 13 April 1987).