THERE’S less cash on the books for public libraries, despite a multi-billion dollar surplus and claims there’s a huge return on investment in the facilities.
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Councillor Glenn Inglis said investment in public libraries was returned directly to the community fourfold and was “extremely disappointed” to hear the NSW government had slashed funding.
According to Local Government NSW (LGNSW), the state budget revealed funding for libraries was cut by 18 per cent ($23.5 million in 2018-19 compared with $28.8 million in 2017-18).
Cr Inglis said NSW was the worst state in the country when it came to public library funding.
“Maintaining well-resourced and accessible public libraries is a smart economic investment in communities’ futures - for every $1 invested in libraries $4 in benefits are directly returned to the community,” he said.
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“In 1980, the state subsidised 23 per cent of costs and in 2017 it is seven per cent.
“By way of international comparison, Finland spends $90 per capita on libraries and here, in NSW, councils get a subsidy of $3.76.”
The councillor also said it was a surprising move, given the overall usage of libraries across NSW.
“It is also interesting to consider this policy position in perspective,” he said.
“NSW libraries are visited by 34 million people per year, whilst the Sydney Cricket Ground, Allianz & ANZ stadiums on average attract about 3 million per year.”
LGNSW said the 2018/19 budget had swapped critical infrastructure funding “for a grab-bag of short-term sweeteners”.
“The so-called ‘people’s budget’ is actually anything but,” President Linda Scott said.
“Funding to public libraries has been slashed by 18 per cent.
“Public libraries in NSW already receive the lowest per capita support of all Australian states.
“This NSW State Budget sees library funding plummeting to record low levels.”