LIBRARIES in central Victoria are turning to technology to help keep connected with the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Goldfields Library Corporation chief executive Mark Hands said ebooks, audio books, and video storytimes had become increasingly popular across the library sites.
"We were probably expecting it," Mr Hands said. "Obviously we love having our libraries open and it was a sad day for staff when we had to close the doors.
"We've certainly tried to focus on ramping up what we offer online through social media and our website.
"We have loads of opportunities for people to stay connected."
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Mr Hands said people could also now become a library member online, which meant more people had access to resources from home.
"In some areas it's been huge," he said. "We have seen triple the amount of traffic on our e-audio selection.
"People have a lot of time to fill during the day and they're trying to find things to do at home. We just want to support our community."
Mr Hands said the new measures implemented during the pandemic could lead to lasting change in the region.
"From a library perspective, we're constantly thinking up new ideas and opportunities to shift our business model," he said.
"We're really looking at ways we can continue this into our normal practice."
Mr Hands encouraged the community to stay up to date with the latest information on the Goldfields Library Corporation website and Facebook page.
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