Passionate locals are ready to fight to keep community libraries open after plans to close three were revealed. Read the reaction.
Parents and children, along with local politicians, gathered at the Barwon Heads Library on Saturday morning to prepare a plan to tackle the proposed closures together.
Plans were revealed on Friday to close the Barwon Heads, Geelong West and Highton libraries and reduce trading hours at seven other locations due to a funding shortfall.
Friends of Barwon Heads Community Library President Karen Firth said the group was disappointed the library was facing the axe and felt like it was “groundhog day” after locals fought to save it in 2017.
“I do wonder if we are centre field in the midst of political football,” she said.
Ms Firth said the recently refurbished library was used by the community and by students at Barwon Heads Primary School.
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Barwon Heads resident Michael Rhook said he believed council was “picking easy targets” to save money.
“It’s simple for them to pick on the same libraries (as 2017),” he said.
“It feels like a blanket chop.”
Barwon Heads resident Michael Rhook said Geelong council was picking “easy target” in order to save money.
Mr Rhook’s son, who is in grade 4 at Barwon Heads Primary, was “shocked” when he heard the library may close.
He said it was a “happy place” for his son and the other students.
Mr Rhook said the plans are a “serious misjudgment” as the population of Barwon Heads’ continues to boom.
Bellarine MP Alison Marchant said is was “really disappointing” the library was facing the chop.
“The fact the community has had to do this before is really distressing for them,” she said.
Grade 2 student, Pippa Monaghan, said she would be “very sad” if the library closed and she would miss “all the books”.
Her sister Maddie, who is in grade 4, said she couldn’t imagine the school without the library.
She said she loved the library because it’s “like an escape from reality”.
Grade 5 student Daisy Bell said it is “really special” to have a library at the school.
“I love going to my favourite section and seeing all the new books,” she said.
Ms Firth said the library did cost $58,000 to run annually in recent years and loaned 54,000 books per year.
“We don’t want a city style regional approach applied to our library system,” Ms Firth said.
“It is a place of social connection and learning.”
Locals gathered at Barwon Heads to plan how to keep their community library open.
Locals also gathered on Saturday morning to discuss how to save the Geelong West library at Pakington St.
New mother Kate Stowell said she was “furious” when she heard the library could close.
She regularly takes her one-year-old baby to the library for story time and sing-a-longs.
“The library is such an important resource for our community, it’s not just about books, it’s a meeting place,” she said.
Residents are planning to protest on May 20 at the front of the Geelong West Library.
Corangamite MP Libby Coker said council’s budget cuts were ripping the heart of our community libraries.
“The Barwon Heads community is justifiably angry. Only a few years ago their library was under threat and now it’s happening again,” Ms Coker said.
“Barwon Heads community are fighters, they’ve saved this library before, and I know they have the drive to do it again.
“But this is the tip of the iceberg – there are community projects under threat – delays and cutbacks are just unacceptable.
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