Marrickville Council is throwing its full support behind a new funding campaign for public libraries.
The New South Wales Public Library Associations, Public Libraries NSW, and NSW Metropolitan Public Library Association, are calling on the NSW government to undertake a comprehensive review of public library funding, as promised during the last NSW election.
The funding campaign will also shine a light on the intent of the NSW Library Act of 1939, which called for equal funding from state and local governments to provide library services.
Mayor Jo Haylen said that local government is left carrying the burden for public libraries.
“If this situation is allowed to continue, local councils will once again be picking up the bill from yet more cost-shifting from the NSW government.”
NSW councils and their communities were left $521 million out of pocket in the 2011/12 financial year, an annual survey by Local Government NSW has found, as a result of continuous cost–shifting by the NSW and Australian governments.
“Marrickville Council spends more per resident on community services than any other Sydney council, while at the same time, we’re in the lower percentile bracket for residential rates,” said Mayor Haylen.
“We’re hugely proud of that, but it’s not sustainable for ever.
“During the last NSW election, the current government promised to review the funding model of our libraries, but three years later, we are still waiting with bated breath!
“We will be writing to NSW Minister for the Arts George Souris, calling for reform of the funding system for our public libraries. Libraries are too precious and too valuable to allow this funding stalemate to continue.”
Marrickville Council is urging all residents to sign petitions located at all their libraries.
