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Liberals To Boost Country Library FundingPublic libraries in country Victoria are surviving only on short rations, with the Bracks Government slashing funding by more than 20 per cent since 1999. By Phillip Davis - 19th April 2006 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said public libraries were a vital resource for country Victorians, and adequate funding was imperative for these facilities to provide an adequate service to the community.
"Victoria has 43 public library corporations that service 251 branches," Mr Davis said.
"A total of 22 of the library service corporations operate 31 mobile libraries that visit 563 sites, often in isolated rural towns.
"While the Bracks Government had no problems spending $80 million on propaganda and advertising, it only spends an average of $6 per person on library services each year.
"This equates to about 20 per cent of total running costs of libraries – the shortfall is borne by local government.
"Library branches in country Victoria are facing closure and mobile services are also at risk as councils across Victoria struggle to maintain the service."
Mr Davis said the Bracks Government’s ever increasing cost-shifting to Local Government for public libraries in country Victoria was causing maintenance of books, technology and buildings to suffer.
"A Liberal Government will reverse public library neglect with an initiative to expand services into geographical and resource areas that are currently neglected and provide a secure funding formula to protect and enhance our great public libraries," Mr Davis said.
"A Liberal Government will slash the Bracks Government’s waste and mismanagement, with a guarantee that library funding will be at least an average of $9 per person by 2010.
"This funding will be achieved through a new formula for allocating recurrent library funding which recognises the cost of service delivery over large and diverse geographical areas.
"A Liberal Government will ensure a co-operative, partnership based approach to the funding of public libraries between local and state government, and certainty for library corporations and councils for future budgetary planning through the additional funds
"The Bracks Government has neglected country Victorian libraries for long enough – it is time the Victorian Government recognised what an invaluable asset public libraries are and fund them accordingly."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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