Dubbo council joins push for more library funding

The NSW Public Libraries Association and Local Government NSW have joined forces to advocate for increased and sustainable library funding from the NSW government in the lead up to the election in March.

NSW councils currently pay 92.5 per cent of the costs to operate public libraries. In 1980 councils were paying 77 per cent.

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In the 2015/16 financial year, the NSW government gave $26.5 million to public libraries, while local government paid $341.1 million.

The government has announced a $60 million funding package for NSW public libraries from 2019/20 until 2022/23 and NSW Labour has committed $60.5 million. But the Renew Our Libraries campaign is calling for $90 million and a sustainable funding model.

Councillor Stephen Lawrence said it was “a disgraceful situation” that NSW had the lowest percentage of state government support for libraries.

“The recent increase of $60 million is good, and it certainly sounds good, but it needs to be put in context. In the 2015/16 year the local government contribution to local libraries was $341 million so this increase, though it’s welcome, is not going to be an answer to the continual shortfall that sees us in the worst situation in Australia in terms of our funding for this most important service,” he said.

NSW Public Libraries Association president Dallas Tout said a sustainable funding model was needed for public libraries.

“Any long-term solution to public library funding in NSW must include indexation to ensure we can meet growing demand into the future,” Cr Tout said.

“Current funding commitments from both major parties cut off in 2023 and without indexation or legislation to protect them, do not deliver a long-term solution for funding public libraries.”

Members of the community can also support the campaign by signing the Renew Our Libraries petition at renewourlibraries.com.au. To date more than 10,000 people have signed the petition.