Support a new chapter

IT wasn’t that long ago that it looked like the book was going to be closed forever on three local libraries.

A City of Greater Geelong plan to permanently close the library branches at Chilwell, Highton and Barwon Heads in 2017, sparked widespread outrage and a good oldfashioned display of people power, forcing the council to backflip on its decision and extend their funding later that same year.

But even in celebration there was still some uncertainty, with the funding initially only committed for another year. The decision was later justified with membership numbers soaring at two of the libraries and the return of elected councillors seemingly sealed the branches’ future.

As further proof of peoples’ demand for their local library, library membership across Geelong has increased by 15 per cent during the past five years.

The good news is Geelong people love their libraries. The bad news is our booming population means the demand for branches is growing and they need to be funded.

New recommendations from the Geelong Regional Library Corporation has called for new libraries at Drysdale, Torquay and Lara within the next five years, and refurbishments at Corio, Queenscliff, Chilwell, Highton and Waurn Ponds within the next three years. That is in addition to a proposed new library at Armstrong Creek.

New buildings and renovations do not come cheap and, with 80 per cent of the current libraries’ funding coming from GRLC member councils, there are some pretty sizeable bills facing ratepayers in the coming years.

While the councils have learned from Geelong’s misstep and seem willing to support the recommendations, there are very real questions over how they are going to be able to support such major infrastructure needs.

Perhaps the State Government will come to the table with greater support to ensure that the people will be able to continue to enjoy this valuable and clearly much-loved resource.