By Matt Hewson
The Geelong West community is rallying to save its beloved library after Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) announced the proposed closure of the community hub last week.
GRLC said on Friday May 12 it could close Geelong West, Barwon Heads and Highton libraries by September this year after the City of Greater Geelong’s (CoGG) budget did not include funds to operate two new libraries, leaving a shortfall of $1.118 million in GRLC’s 2023-24 budget.
That day, the Save Geelong West Library group began to form as residents banded together to oppose the closure.
Save Geelong West Library organiser Ellen Csar said closing the busy library would have huge a impact on the community.
“It would take away a vital service for people,” she said.
“They have Lego clubs, Baby Time, mother’s groups. There’s school holiday programs, which keep kids engaged and connected to the local community.
“It provides services to people, including elderly citizens, such as helping them set up emails and navigate computers, printing, resume assistance. We’re going to make sure it is (saved).”
In addition to closing the three libraries, GRLC said it may transition Chilwell Library to an unstaffed model and shorten operating hours for others.
“The last thing we want to do is close libraries and reduce services to the communities that we serve, or to impact our staff,” GRLC CEO Vanessa Schernickau said.
“But with the COGG 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.”
CoGG said it did not support the closure of any library and that GRLC “has options that they are choosing not to take up”.
“We are in the process of assisting the GRLC to identify where they can make savings in senior roles and back office roles to align to an organisation of their size,” it said in a statement.
“The City has previously supplied payroll, finance and other back office services to the GRLC but the Corporation has chosen to take these responsibilities in-house, adding to their overheads.
“We will consider taking library services in-house if the GRLC cannot find a way to operate all of Geelong’s libraries with the funding available.”
Highton residents are also mobilising to oppose closure of their library through Facebook group Save Highton Library.
Save Highton Library organiser Anne McMahon said the community was the “meat in the sandwich”, caught in the middle of a squabble between council and GRLC.
“Libraries are pivotal at this time; everybody’s tightening their belt, but these are safety net places… for all parts of the community,” she said.
The community group organisers are holding rallies this weekend to oppose the proposal, at Geelong West Library at 9.30am Saturday and at Geelong Library at 10am Sunday.
