Libraries ‘at risk’

Alex de Vos
The region’s libraries are almost broke, according to an Auditor-General’s report.
The report said Geelong Regional Library Corporation had “immediate liquidity problems”.
The report recommended authorities “critically assess the financial health” of the library corporation.
The corporation runs 13 libraries across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and at Torquay along with three mobile services.
Geelong’s council controversially closed the corporation’s Newtown library in 2005 after a review of the service.
The Auditor-General’s reported ranked the library corporation at “high risk” with “short-term and immediate viability concerns”.
Victoria opposition local government spokesperson Ken Smith said the region’s libraries would close if “nothing was done” soon.
He blamed State Government for failing to provide the service with enough funding.
“This is an extremely serious state of affairs,” Mr Smith said.
“Libraries are essential to our local communities, particularly our regional communities, but one by one they are disappearing as costs continue to rise and State Government support is gradually withdrawn.
“Labor promised more funding in the 2006 election for local libraries but this has proved to be nothing but a drop in the ocean and yet another broken election promise.”
Geelong councillor Rod Macdonald, who chairs the library corporation, denied the service was in financial strife.
He said the corporation had “nothing wrong…in terms of funds in and funds out”.
Cr Macdonal ruled out library closures.
“The current situation is that we’re looking to improve library services and open more libraries in Geelong,” Cr Macdonald said.
However, Cr Peter McMullin, who holds the City’s arts and cultural heritage portfolio, said Geelong Library was “inadequate”.
“The library is not consistent with the demands of Victoria’s second city,” he said.
“There’s always a need for more resources and I support any call for funding.”
Local Government Minister Richard Wynne did not return the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.