If you were given a book instead of flowers on Valentine's Day last week there could be a very good reason. February 14th is also International Book Giving Day. Not to mention Library Lovers' Day!

At Warren Shire Council Library, they celebrated the day by awarding coffee and cake to one lucky borrower.

In Warren Shire, libraries have very much been the focus lately, with the Warren Shire Council Library's updated premises reopening on February 6.

Warren Shire Library is part of the North Western Libraries Group which also includes libraries at Bogan, Coonamble and Gilgandra.

Council's General Manager, Gary Woodman, was excited to join the team at Warren Shire Library to celebrate the reopening of the new and improved library which had been closed since last October. In the interim, a temporary library was set up at the information centre.

Since the opening, eye-catching signage and new landscaping has been completed which complements the refurbished interior.

The works are part of a $315,723 grant which Council received from the State Library of NSW to improve the main library entrance, with a particular emphasis on meeting the needs of people living with disability and people with prams.

The updated exterior of Warren Shire Library. IMAGE SUPPLIED

Western Plains App spoke to staff at the Warren Shire Library who said the improvements were great.

"We had access available for prams and wheelchairs previously but it was awkward to negotiate the door," the staff member said. "This has been a great improvement. We have lot of young children come into the library, so its great that its easier."

Libraries are still hugely popular destinations. According to data published by The Sydney Morning Herald, about 7.6 million people visited Australian libraries in the 12 months to July 2019, or almost a third of the population.

Three-quarters of these people visited at least four times in the year. In comparison, 6.7 million people toured museums and 6.3 million visited art galleries.

However, digital technology has brought public libraries to a turning point. Council Magazine called on libraries to be "brave and innovative" to retain interest. The way we access and consume information has changed dramatically, and this presents major challenges and opportunities for public library systems across the world. Many libraries have made huge progress by adapting to the ongoing needs of communities, reinforcing their key role and importance. 

Warren Shire Library has embraced this.

"We have a local history group, and visits from schools and kindergartens for stories," the staff member told Western Plains App. "We also run school holiday programs and are looking to run adult classes at some stage."