In PX104, our interview guest is Vanessa Schernickau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC). The GRLC provides library and information services to residents and visitors across the Geelong region on behalf of five local government councils.

The network consists of a central library, 18 community libraries, three mobile libraries and a website. It provides free, universal access to lifelong learning, reading and discovery. 

The Geelong Library began in 1858 as part of the Mechanics Institute.

Vanessa talks about her first library book and her lifetime love affair with libraries. She talks of the dynamic changes that have led to the modern library model. This model has changed with the times and now a substantial component of user requirements are not associated with physical books.

As the industrialist and great patron of public libraries Andrew Carnegie famously put it more than a century ago, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” His words ring true today.

We chose libraries as an interview topic as they represent one of the few public places in our towns and cities. They also provide a good deal of assistance to people navigating government and commercial services and simply as pleasant places to rest and relax.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Vanessa recommends two books, ‘The Colony’ by Audrey Magee and ’Small things like these’ by Claire Keegan.

Jess recommends ‘The House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson.

Pete recommends ‘100 Poems, 100 Poets (Hyaku-nin isshu).

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 May 2023.