Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional councillors were due last night to consider a request to join Renew Our Libraries funding campaign.
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The campaign was launched by NSW Public Libraries Association and Local Government NSW in order to lobby for the restoration of recurring funding from the state government.
Cootamundra-Gundagai mayor Abb McAlister recommended to fellow councilors that they join the campaign.
“Riverina Regional Library (RRL) are lobbying their member councils and requesting support for funding through Regional Cultural Fund Grants Program and seeks endorsement from council,” Cr McAlister’s report stated.
“Council has previously supplied a letter of support which was sent 5 September, 2018.”
As well as endorsing the ‘Renew Our Libraries’ campaign, councillors will be asked to “note the announcement by the NSW Government on 24 August 2018 of its intention to provide a $60 million funding package for NSW public libraries for the quadrennial period 2019-20 to 2022-23”.
If the motion is carried, the council will support the campaign’s efforts to “secure the pledged funding, clarify the funding components and liaise with the government regarding the funding model”.
The campaign is pushing for a “sustainable” funding model that guarantees “an appropriate level of ongoing and indexed state funding”.
If the motion is carried, the council will also write a letter to Cootamundra MP Stephanie Cook “in relation to the need for ongoing additional (state) funding for the provision of public library services”.
The council would also contact the Arts Minister and the opposition.