LIBRARIES FUNDING

The City of Greater Geelong does not support the closure of any libraries in our region.

We provide 85 per cent of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation’s (GRLC) total budget and our funding is intended to cover the operation of all libraries in Greater Geelong, new and existing.

Our proposed budget for 2023-24 includes a total contribution towards our region’s libraries of $13.948 million, including a cash contribution to the Geelong Regional Library Corporation of $12.244 million.

In a very challenging economic environment, we have worked hard to allocate a $240,000 increase in library funding from 2022-23 levels.

The GRLC has released a draft budget that proposes the closures of Highton, Geelong West and Barwon Heads libraries, as well as reduced services at several other facilities.

It is not our intention or belief that any libraries should have to close.

Just as we are making hard decisions across our budget to be financially sustainable during difficult economic times and rate-capped income for Councils, we are asking that our service providers do the same.

All community members are welcome to provide a submission to our budget process regarding libraries.

Equally, we encourage you to submit to the GRLC’s budget process, which is open until Friday 9 June.

Submissions can be made by emailing info@grlc.vic.gov.au, attention to the Chief Executive Officer.

The GRLC draft budget can be found at www.grlc.vic.gov.au.