Dismay at public library funding cuts

Dear Editor,

We are writing to express our dismay at the recent announcement of a cut to public library funding in Victoria of $5.7 million over four years.

For many years State governments of both persuasions have presided over an insidious process of cost-shifting onto local government in a number of service areas, and especially for libraries.  In regional Victoria, where councils have limited income from a low rates base and large areas to service, funding for libraries has unfortunately been kept well below the state average.

Regional library services cannot afford to lose any funding through cuts to the already poor government grants, so this latest announcement is totally unacceptable to regional library users. In Central Victoria where funding for the Goldfields Library Corporation is one of the lowest in the state, whilst servicing an enthusiastic borrowing community, we can only express complete disbelief.

The government risks a severe backlash if it proceeds with this plan to reduce funding to our local libraries. Goldfields Library Corporation can claim to be one of the most efficient and best service providers staffed by hardworking individuals appreciated by their customers. However, it cannot be expected to service a growing community, increasingly populated by ‘tree change’ commuters, young families, and early retirees, on a shrinking budget. On the contrary, it needs increased capital to purchase digital equipment, to offer weekend and evening opening hours, and to facilitate events connecting the community with the wider public sphere.

The cultural capital of regional cities such as Bendigo and Castlemaine is advertised by the Government as a reason to visit Victoria. If it really wants us to be a jewel in the crown, it needs to support the local population’s services. Please don’t starve our regional libraries.

Yours faithfully

Denise Jepson, President
Dr Deborah Staines, Secretary
Friends of Castlemaine Library (FOCAL)
C/- Castlemaine Library, 212 Barker Street, Castlemaine. 3450