Libraries to close under draft budget

THE Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation (GRLC) says it has no choice but to permanently shut some Geelong libraries and cut the hours at others in response to a funding shortfall from the City of Greater Geelong.

In its 2023/24 draft budget, released today (Friday, May 12), GRLC proposes to close three libraries – Barwon Heads, Geelong West and Highton – by September 30 and switch Chilwell Library to “an unstaffed model” by repurposing part of the Living Libraries Grant “to make the required Technology and Building changes”.

Corio and the new Boronggook Drysdale libraries would close on Sundays, and Belmont, Boronggook Drysdale, Corio, Lara, Leopold, Ocean Grove and Waurn Ponds libraries would close earlier on Saturdays, along with a reduction in services at the kim barne thaliyu Geelong Heritage Centre.

The GRLC board originally expected to sign off on the 2023-2024 draft budget at their April 27 board meeting, but the city’s draft budget, released the day before, proposed a reduction the city’s contribution to the GRLC.

“As part of discussions with all five member councils, we asked for a 2 per cent increase for the 2023/24 budget. Our request is below CPI and just in line with the 2 per cent staff remuneration increase as per our Enterprise Agreement, which all other funding councils agreed to,” GRLC chief executive officer Vanessa Schernickau said.

The city’s draft budget does include a 2 per cent increase but no funds to operate Geelong’s two newest libraries, Boronggook Drysdale Library, which opened last month; and Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library; which will open in 2024.

GRLC says this has left a $1.118 million hole in its funding, leading it to “suggest operational changes to service levels” across libraries in the City of Greater Geelong to make up the gap.

The GRLC board passed the draft budget yesterday, and Ms Schernickau said the changes would take effect at some point in the new financial year, which starts on July 1.

“The last thing we want to do is close libraries and reduce services to the communities that we serve, or to impact our staff. But with the City of Greater Geelong draft budget as it stands we have been left with no choice. A funding shortfall of this size cannot be found by reducing programs or events, or small modifications to our operating models.

“Given that the City of Greater Geelong is by far our biggest funder, all of our Geelong libraries and communities will be impacted as a result of these changes, not just those that would close. Libraries situated in our other member council areas will not be impacted.”

GRLC says it is working with all its employees and the Australian Services Union on potential changes staff changes.

“There will be no redundancies for permanent staff in the upcoming financial year (23/24) but there will be other solutions we need to apply to continue to operate on reduced budgets e.g. assess all current and future vacancies during FY 23/24 as to whether replacement or recruitment is required,” GRLC stated.

To read the draft 2023/24 GRLC budget, head to grlc.vic.gov.au/news/draft-budget-2023-24-and-strategic-resource-plan-2023-27