New Library Proposal

At present, the Great Lakes Library Service comprises one central library at Forster, one branch library at Tea Gardens, and library service points at Bulahdelah, Nabiac, and Stroud. Since the central library at Forster was opened in 1988, the population of the area has increased by over 70%. The library is far too small to service the current population, let alone provide for the expected increase.

Although the existing building is very attractive it lacks the space for many essentials of the modern library. It suffers from the lack of meeting rooms, genealogy area, quiet study space, or dedicated function space. The backroom work area for library staff is very congested. There is one open area for preparing books for loan, repairing damaged stock, dealing with returns and distribution to branches, servicing home deliveries, storing donations for sorting, and holding meetings. The coordination and management of the entire library service (including the computer system) runs from the backroom area. Even the lunch area provided to staff is jammed into this space. Parking is absurdly inadequate - especially in an area with a high percentage of senior citizens.

Now over 20 years old, the library in Forster has always been under-resourced. Great Lakes was the second last Shire in the State to have a public library. The time has come for the people of Forster and Tuncurry to have the library they deserve, so they will not be disadvantaged in comparison with other regional and metropolitan areas. A new library would also benefit residents in outlying areas, as the central library administers the branch library in Tea Gardens and the service points in Nabiac, Bulahdelah and Stroud.

Public libraries play a very significant role in the lives of many Australians, providing enrichment and opportunity for life-long learning to the many library users. Unfortunately, the NSW State Government funding for public libraries is the lowest of any state in Australia thus shifting the major responsibility to local government. This is even more of a burden in regional areas with a low rate base. At a national level, the amount of money required to improve the quality of services offered by public libraries is relatively very small compared with what is spent on other essential institutions such as hospitals and schools.

Good libraries just don't happen. Members of the community need to let the three levels of government know how much they value library services. The Friends are determined to make a difference in our community by advocating for a high standard library service. You can support this aim by becoming a member of FOGLLS.

The following is a copy of a letter to Great Lakes Councillors and Executives,
dated 31 August 2011

Dear

Our understanding is that Councillors and Council Senior Management staff are generally supportive of the need for a Civic Precinct including a new library, and it is unnecessary for us to reiterate the case. However as far as the path to this achievement is concerned, considerable planning needs to be carried out.

We believe that despite the current interesting economic times, plans for a new library should not be delayed. The recent GFC was an example of the benefits gained by "shovel ready" projects. We are not even "dream ready". Regarding the Civic Precinct concept, we understand that Council has a primary obligation to replace the community hall facilities as well as provide accommodation for many other community activities. The need for meeting rooms and performance space is pressing. We are keen to advocate State and Federal Governments for funding but need to detail our requirements first.

To quote our national organisation FOLA "Already by far the most used and valued community provision by Australian councils and state/territory governments, Australia's public library system is under growing pressure as economic pressures impact particularly on families. More and more people are discovering that they do not have to spend anything directly to access the uniquely wide range of resources and services of their local library. "

Our Committee have no expertise in current trends for public libraries, so if we were to make a "dream" list for the Great Lakes area, it may not include many options unknown to us. There would need to be input from our library manager and the State Library.

However, we do believe that in our community which is acknowledged as having low socio-economic status, we should be providing facilities for residents which they may not be able to access at home. Many local homes are not conducive to studying, either by children or adults involved in further education. Libraries are ideally suited to supporting life-long learning - if only ours had study space now!

Some other facilities we would like the new library to include, are set out below. (Some of these could be multi purpose.)

Meeting rooms
Youth space
Technology room for training
Genealogy room
Gallery space
Function room
Indigenous history records of Worimi people
Lounge/coffee area for browsing and chatting
Room to honour poet Les Murray (possible tourist attraction)
Temperature controlled storage for Historical Society.

The recent appalling outbreaks of violence in England are a frightening reminder of the importance of forward planning to avoid cultural disasters where many citizens feel unwanted and detached from their community.

We are very keen to know what action Council intends to take regarding the new library.

On behalf of the Committee

Audrey Semon,
Secretary and Coordinator,
Friends of Great Lakes Library Service Inc.