Council to begin consultation on library services

Published on 07 June 2016

Mildura Rural City Council has confirmed there will be no immediate change to any of its library services with community consultations set to begin in late August.

Councillors resolved at the last Ordinary Council meeting to begin consultation with communities and library users, after a report into the future of local library services found the mobile library and the Irymple library were both seeing a significant decrease in patronage and an increase in operational costs. 

Arts and Culture portfolio Councillor Jill Joslyn said discussions with the community about how the services could be modified and improved would begin in late August, with the services fully funded in their current model in the draft 2016-2017 Budget.

“The 2016-2017 Budget has both the services funded so provided there is no change to this part of the budget once it is adopted, then the service will continue for at least the next 12 months,” Cr Joslyn said.

“At this point we’re just going to go to the community with information about why we need to look at the delivery of this service and with some proposed options for a new service model to see what the communities think.  We’re hoping to find a solution that allows more access to resources rather than less.”

Yarra Ranges, Loddon Shire, City of Greater Bendigo and Buloke Shire are just some of the Victorian Councils who have moved to change the way they deliver library services to outlying communities in recent times.

“The important point here is that no decision has been made on the future of these facilities.  We understand the importance of these community assets and the role libraries play in the health and wellbeing of our community.  It’s not just about dollars and cents, but we do have to make sure these services are sustainable.”

Once the community consultations have been completed, Council will then give people the opportunity to make formal submissions about the proposed changes.

More information about the services offered by Mildura Rural City Council’s libraries is available online at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/library

ENDS

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