Council refuses library agreement

BYRON Shire Council has refused to sign up to Lismore City Council's controversial takeover of the Richmond Tweed Regional Library network.

BYRON Shire Council has refused to sign up to Lismore City Council's controversial takeover of the Richmond Tweed Regional Library network.

Byron Shire councillors this week voted unanimously to reject Lismore's revised Richmond Tweed Regional Library Agreement and Service Level Agreement, which would see Lismore amalgamate and administer library services across Byron, Ballina, Lismore and Tweed.

Instead, Byron Council wants to look at other options, including a county council model that would allow councils to jointly manage the network.

The operation of the network has caused friction since Lismore announced in June last year that it would disband the library committee that previously ran the network and take it over.

At the time, it argued the structure of the network - which had been in place for decades - was in conflict with the NSW Library Act. That legislation was recently negated however, with the passing of the Library Amendment Bill, again making it viable for councils to jointly manage the network.

Tweed Shire Council recently agreed to accept in principle Lismore's proposed agreement, while Ballina Shire council decided to defer a decision until further investigations of a county council and an independent model.

Byron General Manager Graeme Faulkner told last week's council meeting the regional committee should never have been disbanded. He will write to Lismore City Council to ask that it be re-formed so that alternative options, including a county council model, can be considered.

Byron council has also previously indicated it would explore the option of running its own stand-alone library service; however it is understood that model may prove prohibitively expensive and lead to a downgrade of services.

Byron Bay Friends of the Library member, Jenny Coman, said Byron decision was a step in the right direction.

She told last week's council meeting that she found it hard to believe Tweed council had signed up to the agreement, as it handed all power and control to Lismore and put other councils in an unacceptably subordinate position.

Lismore councillors will decide at its meeting tomorrow night if they want to maintain the offer to be the RTRL's administering council.

Meanwhile, Byron Bay Friends of the Library will celebrate its 20th birthday at Bangalow's Heritage House from midday on Wednesday September 21.

All past and present members of Byron library Friends are invited to come along. $10 per head. To RSVP or for more information email [e-mail], or contact Sam on 0400758621.

Originally published as Council refuses library agreement