Libraries stay open, but funding questions remain

GEELONG Regional Libraries Corporation (GRLC) says libraries will retain their existing opening hours after the City of Greater Geelong agreed to fill almost half a funding shortfall in its 2023-24 budget.

But the corporation indicated existing job vacancies might not be filled as it sought $406,000 worth of savings in the next financial year.

The city on Tuesday adopted its final 2023-24 budget, which increased funding to the GRLC by $356,000 from its draft released April.

The city will provide $14.3 million in total for the library corporation – $596,000 more than 2022/23.

The council will also ramp up its advocacy to the state government to increase their funding library services following a motion from Cr Ron Nelson.

But the allocation is nearly $400,000 short of the figure GRLC expected it would receive for the next financial year, when it faces increased costs to run an expanded Drysdale library and a new Armstrong Creek library expected to open in the first half of 2024.

The corporation had initially proposed closing some libraries and reducing hours at others in its draft budget.

GRLC board chair, Surf Coast Shire mayor Liz Pattison, said the extra money would enable opening hours to remain the same in 2023/24 but it still had to make tough financial decisions to close the funding gap.

“After the City of Greater Geelong budget announcement last night, we can confirm that no Greater Geelong libraries will close, and weekend hours will not be impacted,” Cr Pattison said.

“With the $406,000 shortfall that remains, the organisation will now work to assess where these savings can be made – including assessing existing staff vacancies and assessing other discretionary costs. This work will be done in close collaboration with our valued staff.”

Cr Pattison also thanked library supporters for their determined campaigning during the budget process, and welcomed Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan and deputy mayor Anthony Aitken as returning and new GRLC board members.

Community campaigners have vowed to keep pressure on councillors following the decision, after public demonstrations, community petitions and budget submissions attracted thousands of supporters in recent weeks.

Combined Regional Libraries Action Group spokesperson Kathleen Riches said the lobby group was “extremely disappointed” the budget passed without the full funding sought to run the libraries.

“They needed to listen to the community and they didn’t.

“They expect the [GRLC] to find the extra $406,000 out of their reserves, which is just irresponsible.

“To completely trash the long-standing agreement between the libraries corporation and the council to fund their budgeted item is offensive.”

The funding decision received a mixed response from councillors.

Cr Melissa Cadwell moved for the remaining $406,000 to be included in a list of priority projects for the city to return to its budget if more cash became available, but failed to attract supporting votes. She was the only councillor to vote against the budget.

Cr Jim Mason said he was “very disappointed” that officers had failed “to strike a collegiate and collaborative stance”.

“It’s my fervent hope that we can recover from this position with the library.”

But multiple councillors claimed their ongoing funding proved their commitment to library services.

“I’m delighted that we’ve given the library corporation the amount of money that they specified would avoid them closing libraries,” Cr Stephanie Asher said.

“There is an increase of nearly $600,000 from last year’s budget to the library… I just find it a bit difficult when people say that this council doesn’t appreciate libraries,” Cr Bruce Harwood said.