Maitland councillors lodge rescission motion over public library funding

In NSW’s Lower Hunter Valley region, three Liberal councillors from Maitland City Council have lodged a motion to reverse council support for public library funding, following the state government’s announcement of a $60 million funding boost for NSW public libraries, reports the Maitland Mercury.

Councillors Mitchell Griffin, Sally Halliday and Ben Mitchell said that the $60 million funding, which will increase the per capita subsidy for public libraries from $1.85 to $2.85 per capita, made the previously backed motion redundant.

‘We feel that given this increase, there is no need for council resources to be put towards campaigning of a political nature and instead should focus on providing local library services,’ they said in a council document.

However, council’s planning, environment and lifestyle group manager Bernie Mortomore said that while the proposed increase in funding was ‘most welcome’, the council still had a role to play in the campaign.

‘In response to council’s resolution, library staff have erected posters and made reference to the issue on our website, social media and monthly newsletters,’ said Mortomore.

‘Local Government NSW advises that the aim of the program is to work with the government to develop a sustainable future funding model with a view guaranteeing an appropriate level of ongoing and indexed state funding,’ he said.

Category: Library news