It is time they and their communities became noisy.

Dubbo's Macquarie Regional Library is part of a NSW Public Library Association campaign, which raised more than 65,000 signatures to petition Parliament on funds issues.

The association said library funding had been static since 1995. It said the current government had said it would increase ongoing funding in the lead-up to the last NSW election but had not done so.

It is unthinkable that successive governments would effectively freeze funds for public libraries - an essential educational resource.

Libraries also provide access to leisure activities with books, music, films etc.

They are of particular benefit to children, young adults, students and older people. They provide a vital service to the less well off.

Dubbo's library has about 65 per cent of the population listed as borrowers. It lent out 218,202 items in 2013. It provides internet and computers to people who would otherwise not have access.

If funds don't increase, libraries may have to cut services and opening hours.

Politicians chant a mantra about making the nation smarter. Surely, supporting reading and learning would help?

Scrooge is a fictional character from a Charles Dickens book, but seems to have found a new life being stingy in the halls of government.