ALIA opposes cuts in funding for South Australian public

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Australian Library and Information Association Executive Director Sue Hutley has spoken out against the South Australian Government’s $1 million cutback in funding of the State’s 138 public and community libraries and its decision not to provide $3 million towards the investment required for one library management system.

A statement jointly issued by ALIA and Public Libraries South Australia (PLSA) refers to the South Australian Government’s “flawed logic, false economy and costshifting.”

Sue Hutley, speaking on behalf of library colleagues across Australia, said, “We fear this may be the thin end of the wedge, with the State Government seeing public libraries as an easy target for spending cuts in the future.

“As evidenced by the experience of the State Government in Western Australia earlier this year, politicians attack public libraries at their peril. These institutions are much loved by taxpayers and voters, and even the most moderate of community members will rise up to defend their local library if they believe it is under threat.

“We recognise that the public sector as a whole in South Australia has suffered the brunt of this round of Government cutbacks and we are not asking for public libraries to be made a special case. However, we are calling for the Government to reconsider a $3 million investment in one statewide library management system and to make a commitment before 30 June 2011 to a per capita contribution to public library funding from 2011-2012 onwards.”

ALIA will be supporting PLSA in pursuing this line of debate with the South Australian Government. Facts and figures about South Australian public libraries are on the ALIA website http://www.alia.org.au/advocacy/.

ENDS

INFORMATION FOR EDITORS:

Australian Library and Information Association:
Sue McKerracher, Library Stars project 0404 456 749
Sue Hutley, Executive Director, ALIA 0412 764 922

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is the professional association for the Australian library and information services sector. It seeks to empower the profession in the development, promotion and delivery of quality library and information services to the nation, through leadership, advocacy and mutual support. ALIA represents the interest of 6,000 members, the profession and Australia's 12 million library users.

http://www.alia.org.au

Issued on behalf of
Australian Library and Information Association
ALIA House, 9-11 Napier Close, Deakin ACT 2604

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