The premier and libraries

Given the election results of this weekend which means the return of Geoff Gallop as premier of Western Australia, I thought it would be interesting to see if libraries had been mentioned. A very quick search revealed the following media statement. Lets hope he keeps his promise.

Government of Western Australia
Media statement
The Hon. Sheila McHale MLA
Minister for community development, women's interests, seniors and youth; disability services; culture and the arts

Statement released: 10 May 2004
Portfolio: culture and the arts

The Gallop government has committed $10.3 million additional funding over four years for the public library system in this year's state budget.

Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the Gallop government recognised the important role played by the state's libraries in the cultural, educational and community life of Western Australia.

'Libraries are vital to our communities and increased resourcing is an important part of this year's budget,' Ms McHale said.

'That is why we are devoting $42.2 million over the next four years to support public libraries.

'Since 2001, and taking into account the funding in this budget, the Gallop government has committed an extra $14.3 million to the public library system.

'This is in addition to $7.7 million already allocated each year to the State Library of WA for public libraries, the State Reference Library and the Battye Library.'

The minister said WA's 238 public libraries provided a unique and unrivalled network accessible to all citizens.

'Libraries are places of lifelong learning for both education and self-help and have something to offer everyone in the community,' she said.

'Whether it be completing homework, planning the next holiday, looking for a job, selecting a university or TAFE to attend or writing a dissertation, libraries are vibrant, useful places to go to.'

An October 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey revealed that Western Australians were far ahead of the national average in library use. Some 46.6 per cent of Western Australians aged 18 years and over attended a library throughout 2002, compared with a national average of 42.1 per cent.

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