Outback Letterbox Library Service has received a $500,000 boost from the New South Wales (NSW) Government.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Councillor Linda Scott, welcomed the additional funding as an important boost to a much-loved service for regional NSW.
“The Renew Our Libraries campaign welcomes NSW Labor’s significant funding boost for the Outback Letterbox Library Service.
“The service delivers library materials to the isolated communities in the far west of NSW.
“It’s absolutely invaluable in ensuring residents living in those areas still have access to public library services.
NSW Public Libraries Association President, Councillor Dallas Tout, said the announcement was welcome and a clear sign the major parties were responding to the Renew Our Libraries campaign.
“NSW public library funding is at crisis point.
“Successive NSW governments have under-invested in public libraries for over 40 years and we need urgent funding to keep up with demand.”
The $500,000 for the Outback Letterbox Library Service brings NSW Labor’s commitment to public libraries to $61 million over four years.
“While both major parties have now made significant new commitments to address the public library funding crisis, we urgently need to double the funding to $94 million over four years.
“This will ensure NSW public libraries can keep up with growing demand that has seen library visits across Australia surge to over 9.3 million a year.”
Cr Tout said that 104 of 128 NSW councils had passed resolutions supporting the Renew Our Libraries campaign objectives.
