As the world continues to fight against the rise of misinformation and half-truths on the internet, a new book reveals the vital role libraries and other cultural institutions play in our communities, promoting our civic ‘common ground’ and preserving our way of life.

Bolstered by insights gained from across the Australian cultural sector, combined with the voices of the public, Beyond the Books – Culture, Value and Why Libraries Matter uses stories rather than economic figures to address what cultural value means to us all.

Written by Dr Heather Robinson, Adjunct Research Associate in Flinders University’s College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, the book is a result of Dr Robinson’s PhD research conducted at Flinders, in partnership with the State Library of South Australia.

“This is no academic book, it’s for everybody,” says Dr Robinson, who rewrote her findings in an engaging, accessible style.

“Our libraries, museums and art galleries are caught in a bind when communicating their role and value to governments, despite the evident public love for these institutions.

“In the face of greater importance placed on metrics, rather than mission, cultural institutions have lost the confidence to act as politically neutral civic spaces, keepers of collections, and creators of cultural value.

“This jeopardises their relationship with the public. Combine this with massive funding cuts of recent decades, there is little wonder why our cultural institutions struggle to remain relevant and reflective of their community’s values.”

Beyond the Books celebrates the dynamic relationship between the State Library of South Australia – recently ranked the second most “beautiful” library in the world – and its citizens, their identity and way of life. Despite the initial focus on South Australia, it’s a story that will resonate across Australia and its many cultural bodies.

Writing in the book’s foreword, former Director and CEO of the State Libraries Association of South Australia, Geoff Strempel, writes that Dr Robinson has “distilled what libraries are in a way that I have rarely seen before.”

“Libraries are a community’s secret weapon in their war against ignorance and isolation.  They are also sites of pleasure and entertainment, and of rich cultural experience, knowledge transfer and social connection.”

Opening with an engaging history of the State Library of South Australia, whose origins began in the UK even before Adelaide was settled, Beyond the Books also highlights Indigenous voices, including a compelling interview with Narungga woman and poet Dr Natalie Harkin.

At its core, the book features powerful public voices crying out loud why our libraries and cultural institutions really matter:

‘The Library give me a sense of ‘belongness’, makes me a part of Australia’.

 ‘I value its sense of continuity as a place of learning, a safe place for free exchange of ideas beyond political, religious or ideological boundaries. It’s also a place that preserves our history and makes it available.’

 ‘I really friggin love it’. [Excerpts from the book by members of the public]. 

“Beyond the Books provides a compelling and delightful account of the foundational social value we place in our libraries, and how it is that our governments keep failing to value them enough.”  – Danielle Clode, author of ‘Koala: A Life in Trees’

“This is an urgent, important book. Our cultural institutions have been held to ransom by bean-counters for too long and Robinson provides a detailed and persuasive case that there is a better way – or in fact a myriad of better ways – of valuing them. This book should be required reading for all policy-makers and economists.” – Gillian Dooley, author of ‘She Played and Sang: Jane Austen and Music’

Published by Wakefield Press, Beyond the Books: Culture, value and why libraries matter will be launched at the State Library of South Australia at 5.30pm on Wednesday 20 August.

Robinson will be in conversation with Jade Lillie at Stony Creek Gallery, exploring Light in the Dark: Reclaiming Culture for Community, as part of the Daylesford Words in Winter festival on Saturday 30 August. Tickets are available at https://wordsinwinter.com/program-2025/ 

About the author: Dr Heather Robinson is a writer and researcher specialising in the cultural history of the twentieth century. She is also a creative producer with thirty years of experience across the Australian GLAM sector and public service. In 2020, Robinson completed her PhD at Flinders University, exploring the creative industries policy impacts on cultural institutions and their communities. She is an Adjunct Research Associate of Flinders University and the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, an avid reader, gardener, and passionate motorcyclist.