WA public libraries to receive extra funding

The state government will provide West Australian public libraries with an extra $10.3 million in an attempt to bring relief to the deteriorating shape libraries are in at the moment. Although details of how the funds will be spent are not yet released, the action gives much satisfaction to the Western Australian Local Governments Association (WALGA) who, in conjunction with the Western Australian Local Government Librarians Association, had been campaigning against the state for extra funds.

WALGA's deputy president, Cr Bill Mitchell, said 'Our campaign highlighted the need for adequate public library funding to address the decline in standard and numbers of library resources.'

According to WALGA and the WA Librarians Association, up to now the state has been contributing $12 million worth of funds per year, while local government has provided public libraries with up to $45 million in funds each year, more than triple the funds coming from the state.

Community policy manager for WALGA, Michelle Mackenzie said 'the lack of state funding for public libraries is part of a bigger issue, the state government shifts the cost of service provisions onto local government.'

Ms Mackenzie also said 'as state government funding lessens local government is expected to pick up the tab.'

President of the WA Local Governments Librarians Association, Patricia Walker said, 'libraries play a vital community service, and are a core provider of cultural and educational services to all Western Australians.'

'Public Libraries not only provide books but equitable access to services such as e-mail and the internet, story-time sessions for toddlers and children, local history collections, resources for people with disabilities and deliveries for household residents.' 'Obviously libraries do not have the same high level of public exposure as health, education and law and order, so this campaign has done a lot to raise the awareness and profile of public libraries,' Ms Walker said.

The campaign highlighted the lack of access Western Australians have had to new information services and also the state's cultural and educational services as a result of insufficient funding from the state.

The State Library Board Act regulates that public libraries must carry 1.25 items of stock per capita. Along with this libraries must also replace 15 per cent of stock per year so as to ensure up to date and current editions of books and technology.

According to an analysis of Public Library Funding Resource,s undertaken by the W.A Local Governments Librarians Association in January of this year, the current state-wide average of items per person is 1.16. This is falling well below the standard required. A spokesperson for WALGA has said that, 'the government is purchasing only a fraction of necessary resources for public libraries, too few titles and too few copies of these.' Ms Walker said areas of high growth such as Mandurah and Wanneroo had been experiencing problems meeting the 1.25 quota and that this was a real issue for the public libraries.

The analysis also reviewed replacement rates, which last met the 15 per cent requirement in 1995 and has since dropped each year. In 2002 only 9.8 per cent of stock was replenished. WALGA hope that with the long-awaited extra funds stock levels will reach the required amount and will at least allow for a 12 per cent replacement rate.

However Ms Walker said the extra funds would not be enough to meet the standards required by the State Library Board. 'We are still not sure of the level of replacement stock this money will provide and how close it will bring us to the 1.25 items per head of population. At a guess, it will probably be somewhere around 10-11 per cent new books input but still under 1.2 items per head of population,' Ms Walker added.

Much of the stock in W.A's public libraries is way past its use by date. Ms Walker hopes the majority of the funds will be spent on the turnover of stock. She said the average shelf life of books should be seven years however at present books are spending up to fifteen years on the shelf, going way passed the suggested seven year mark.

The Western Australian Local Governments Librarians Association along with WALGA is now working towards signing an agreement with the state to ensure continuation of the forward movement of libraries after the extra funds have been spent.

'Graphs of library funding over the last twenty years or so show that the state government funding for public library stock has been on a steady decline,' Ms Walker said.

Ms Walker also said that lobbying and campaigning when funds are low always seems to create a reaction from the state, which then provides extra finances. 'We are hoping that a five year agreement will take these highs and lows out of the funding.'

At present the state is responsible for providing libraries with funding for books in differing types of print and also audio books on tapes, CD or DVD and video. The state's funds also go toward consultancy and advisory services as well as training. Local governments have been providing public libraries with the buildings, technological communications, staff and local resources. It is understood that with some of the state's additional funds extra staff will be employed to help with the processing of new resources.

By Jade Manuela

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