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Join the Save Our Libraries – Fairer Funding campaign (2 Aug)

2/08/2011
Following strong opposition expressed by councils and regional library corporations to the recent cuts in State recurrent library funding, the Save Our Libraries – Fairer Funding campaign has kicked into action.

​Cr Bill McArthur, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) said public libraries were an invaluable community service and the funding cuts had highlighted the community’s passion.

“People are very protective of libraries, and rightly so. They provide free and equal access to services and programs that contribute to lifelong literacy and learning.

“A library is a warm, welcoming place to meet and connect with other people - whether it’s a quiet couch to read, taking the kids to a storytime session, completing a school assignment, joining the chess club, filling out an online job application, or hearing a free talk by a visiting author.

“Libraries have grown in popularity and so have the services they offer as people increasingly access information in diverse electronic formats. Libraries have adapted and so must the Government’s funding model,” he said.

The MAV is encouraging all councils to get involved in the campaign by:

  • Adopting an urgent council resolution to write to the Premier and Minister for Local Government requesting the reversal of operational library funding cuts and a fairer funding model that protects the future of Victoria’s growing and expanding public library services
  • Writing to local Members of Parliament asking for the matter to be raised in the next sitting of Parliament
  • Joining and promoting the facebook page to local communities
  • Making community petitions available at libraries and council customer service centres.

 Cr McArthur said that despite the recent funding cuts that threatened reduced services this year, councils remained committed to providing high quality public libraries for their communities.

“Local government now contributes almost three-quarters of the funding to operate public libraries, with councils’ share growing in recent years as Victorian Government grants failed to keep pace with service costs and growth.

“Libraries are Victoria’s most used community facility and ratepayers can’t continue to sustain the financial burden.

“State Government operational library funding is essential. It helps to cover daily running costs such as paying staff, opening the doors, purchasing new books and other resources, and providing internet access.

“Victoria’s 2.6 million library members and other concerned citizens are also urged to join the campaign to secure fairer funding that protects the long-term viability of this vital community service.

“You can sign a petition at your local library or online; ‘like’ the Save Our Libraries facebook page; or write to the Premier, the Minister for Local Government and your local MP.

“Together we can call on the Coalition Government to show its commitment to literacy and learning by reversing the funding cuts for this year, and fixing the inherited long-term funding crisis facing our libraries,” he said.

 
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Join the campaign on facebook and through the MAV Save Our Libraries page.

Contact MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur on 0437 984 793 or MAV Communications on 9667 5521.