School boys write to Toowoomba Regional Council to ask it not to cut library opening hours
Two Toowoomba boys have written to the council to seek assurance that it would not be cutting opening hours.
Council
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Matteus Holm and Archie Humphries adore going to the region’s public libraries, and they are going to great lengths to make sure access to them are not cut.
The Toowoomba best friends have written to Mayor Paul Antonio to seek assurance the Toowoomba Regional Council will not permanently reduce opening hours at libraries after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted.
The 11-year-olds read with alarm in last week’s Chronicle that TRC’s environment and community general manager Nick Hauser, who oversees the region’s libraries, would not commit to reopening facilities to the opening days and times in place before the pandemic hit.
Archie, who heads down to the Toowoomba City Library regularly with Matteus to check out books and other physical resources, said it was important they were open seven days a week.
“Honestly, if Origin can have 50,000 people, the library can have extra opening hours (when the time is right),” he said.
“(Having an open library) means getting books to read and enjoy and live in, and returning them back and repeating the cycle.”
Matteus said he was concerned children would miss out if hours were permanently reduced.
“Most kids like to go to the library on weekends, but a lot of kids have sporting commitments on Saturdays so they miss out on that if it’s closed on Sundays,” he said.
“(Rural kids) have less access to libraries because they live out in small towns, and if they’re open even less often, it’ll be really hard.”
TRC environment and community portfolio leader Cr Tim McMahon said the council would consult with the community on any changes to library hours.
“The council will conduct community consultation on the region’s library services in early 2021,” he said.
“The council has requested that all services and programs are to be reviewed in line with financial considerations.
“Any significant permanent service level changes will need to be considered by the council.
“We want to hear and understand what residents appreciate most about our libraries and when it is most convenient for them to visit.”
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