South Australian Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts John Hill and Local Government Association President Mayor Kym McHugh have signed an agreement to fund public libraries for a decade. The agreement secures more than $185 million in State subsidy for public libraries, with councils expected to invest more than $570 million over the same period.
In Victoria, Council libraries breathed a sigh of relief after the State Government reversed its initial decision to cut funding.
Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Executive Director Sue Hutley had earlier criticised the Victorian Government’s $5.7 million cut in funding of the State’s public and community libraries.
Welcoming the South Australian agreement, Minister Hill said the State will continue to have the highest per capita State funding to councils for libraries.
“A key element of the agreement is investment in technology, including the development of the One Library Management System which over the next three years will connect all of the State’s 134 public libraries,” the Minister said. “Libraries continue to evolve in their central role as a community hub, through traditional lending of books and materials, providing a public gateway to the internet and through their important literacy work with pre schoolers.”
Mayor McHugh said that communities love their libraries and they are still the most visited public buildings in the nation.
“While other States work hand to mouth on an annual cycle, we’ve been able to plan reforms such as the One Library Management System because of our five year agreements,” he said. “The new ten year agreement gives us all a long term view which will generate even more innovations and customer benefits.”
