08 Aug 2017 The Free Press, Kilmore, VIC (General News) MITCHELL Shire libraries will receive $299,530 of the $2 million allocated for Northern Victoria to continue to deliver library services within the district. Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, announced the funding for libraries to buy books, update computers and deliver programs for schools. Country Victorian communities rely on their public libraries, thats why the Victorian budget 2017/18 provided $42.5 million for the Public Libraries Funding Program a 2.5 per cent increase from last year. The funding comes on top of the $4.5 million Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and the $4.4 million over four years for the Premiers Reading Challenge Book Fund. Victoria has 275 permanent library branches and 30 mobile library services, with more than 2.1 million library members registered in the state. On average, just under one in five Victorians visit their local library in Victoria. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.