How a Melbourne library makes a difference to people’s lives

Apart from the financial benefit, the hotspot programme has ticked every single box in assisting struggling families. Many weren't aware that they could borrow books in Greek, Arabic, Italian


Even when libraries across Victoria had to shut their doors due to the ongoing lockdowns, they never stopped caring for their communities, looking for ways to support them during the pandemic.

For Thomastown Library Branch Manager Coralie Kouvelas, libraries are not just for books. They offer so much more.

“We are the last frontier that anybody can walk into. And that’s anywhere in the world. And they’re free,” she told Neos Kosmos, referring to the library’s inspiring initiative to offer free Wi-Fi connections to its members that needed it most, during the harsh lockdown measures and remote learning in Melbourne.

“We feel very lucky to be able to offer this community service, and actually make a difference.”

School work in the library’s car park

It all started during the last lockdown in Melbourne when Ms Kouvelas noticed the same cars at the library’s car park from morning to late in the afternoon. With the library closed – except for the click-and-collect service – she found it highly unusual, especially after noticing that there were children within the vehicles doing school work.

Speaking to the occupants, Ms Kouvelas soon discovered, that they were accessing the library Wi-Fi for school, either because the connection at home lagged, or simply because they could not afford to pay for one. Apart from the parents and children, she also encountered university students completing their assignments.

The incident compelled Ms Kouvelas to start investigating. Looking at the community statistics in the city of Whittlesea, she realised that it wasn’t surprising that families were resorting to free Wi-Fi in library car parks, as the demographics showed that many would find it hard to afford one.

READ MORE: Greek genealogy group gets serious at Coburg library

In search of a solution for the struggling families, Ms Kouvelas reached out to a colleague at the New York Public Library, and found out that they were offering a hotspot programme to thousands of their members during the pandemic. Inspired, she submitted her proposal to CEO Jane Cowell, who immediately agreed, understanding the importance of internet access to all members of the community.

And that is how, for the first time in Australia, in the midst of the pandemic, a library started offering free Wi-Fi dongles with 60GB for a year to families which needed it. The pilot programme, designed for 100 families, cost $50,000 and there are still some hotspots left for anyone interested, Ms Kouvelas added.

The families’ eligibility is assessed confidentially, by the Whittlesea Community Connections, a not-for-profit service with whom the library has partnered with, along with product supplier Vodafone.

Apart from the financial benefit, the hotspot programme has ticked every single box in assisting these families.
By entering the programme, they became members of the Library, and are now offering crucial feedback, giving the library the opportunity to co-design with them future services.

“Connecting them to the Library, also expanded their knowledge of our collections. Many weren’t aware that they could borrow books in their mother tongue in Greek, Arabic, Italian, amongst others,” Ms Kouvelas said, explaining that many needing the Internet connection service were migrants.

“Imagine not being able to contact your family back home, or get the most important news on the pandemic? Not being able to book an appointment for your vaccination, or download your certificate, or even connect to mygov, because you don’t have access to the Internet?”

READ MORE: Lalor Library plays host for Greek-language story time

An amazing collection of Greek books

“I’m very proud of our Greek collection,” Ms Kouvelas said, describing the amazing fiction and nonfiction collection of books in Greek, available in the library’s branch in Lalor. “We also have Greek librarians that are very well versed in the language and keep an eye out for anything new. We have DVDs, CDs, and digital collections, that people can download.”

“We’d really love to hear from the Greek community as to what they would like to see in their library.” Ms Kouvelas said, adding that the Greek Story Time programme may recommence in the new year.

“If we don’t have something you are after, let us know. Nine times out of ten, we can get it.”

Keeping libraries alive by using them

The feedback she is hearing from the community is that people are desperate to reconnect. “We have the spaces, the facilities, the meeting rooms. If you want to organise a glendi, celebrate Ohi day, have a business meeting, a seminar, our spaces are available to you, for free, with the technologies you need.”
All you need to do, is become a member.

“That is another big thing. Libraries around the world have lost multitudes of memberships. We receive our budget through membership and collection movement, so it is really important for people to understand that they must use their libraries to keep them alive.”

Libraries are not just for individuals, she said. They offer corporate memberships, to aged care facilities, schools, hospitals, amongst other organisations.

“In many aged care facilities, for example, residents have their own screens, their own digital devices through which they can stream the library’s collection.”

The first public library

Ms Kouvelas might not be of Greek background but she has had a passion for Greece, its history and mythology, from a young age. Being married to a Greek Australian, she has adapted to the Greek way of life, so much so, that many times, she says, she feels a little more comfortable in Greece than in Australia.

“If you’ve ever seen the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, it’s my life. Except I’m Ian,” she laughed, describing her amazing journey of food, family and tradition, and how she has been embraced by the family in Greece and at home.

Every time she travels to Greece she goes by the Libraries, visits the Parthenon, explores the countryside, relishing the country’s long history of mythical heroes and ancient philosophers, she tells us, reminding us that it was the ancient Greeks who first established a public library.

For more information about the Yarra Plenty Regional Library, its services, branches and hubs visit www.yprl.vic.gov.au