Barwon Heads, Geelong West, Highton libraries to remain open

There’s been a significant development in the future of three Geelong region libraries that were on the chopping block this week.

GRLC CEO Vanessa Schernickau, left and Geelong council CEO Kaarina Phyland. Picture: Brad Fleet

The region’s library manager has backflipped on a proposal to close three libraries while community members still plan to protest this weekend against library changes.

But the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) won’t get the $762,000 it requested from the City of Greater Geelong to operate the Boronggook Drysdale Library in 2023-24.

The GRLC will instead have to find savings from other parts of its operation to run the library.

After crisis talks with the council this week, the GRLC said on Friday libraries in Barwon Heads, Geelong West and Highton would not close and Chilwell Library would remain staffed.

The $762,000 budget shortfall for GRLC will mean from July 1 this year:

NO libraries in Greater Geelong will be open on Saturday afternoons, except Geelong Library. Belmont, Boronggook Drysdale, Corio, Lara, Leopold, Ocean Grove and Waurn Ponds libraries will close earlier on Saturdays;

NO library in Greater Geelong will be open on Sunday, except Geelong Library. Boronggook Drysdale, Corio and Waurn Ponds libraries will close on Sundays;

SERVICES at the Geelong Heritage Centre will be reduced; and,

EXISTING GRLC staff vacancies may not be filled.

All decisions will need to be ticked off by the council and GRLC in coming weeks.

Geelong council said the Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library’s opening would be delayed until after July 1, 2024.

That decision was made in part due to construction delays, and to manage funding pressure on the GRLC.

It is understood it will cost about $1.8m to run the Drysdale and Armstrong Creek libraries in 2024-25.

GRLC has warned further savings need to be made in 2023-24.

GRLC chief executive Vanessa Schernickau said the budget shortfall was still significant.

“We exist to provide much-loved library services to our communities and we have prioritised keeping all libraries open,” Ms Schernickau said

“However, the budget shortfall that remains is still significant and your experience at your local library in the City of Greater Geelong will look different.”

Acting CoGG chief executive Kaarina Phyland said the council believed GRLC could minimise impacts to its services.

“Following discussions between the City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, we are pleased that they have committed not to close any libraries,” Ms Phyland said.

“We discussed means available to them, other than reducing services, which we hope they will take up.

“The city never supported the closure of libraries and this outcome is positive for the community.

“We are facing a challenging next financial year, as are many governments, and the situation for the city is likely to be improved next year.

“In the short-term, we appreciate our service providers working with us to operate as efficiently as possible so that the impact on the community is minimised.”

When the GRLC proposed to close libraries, Geelong council told it to tighten its belt and threatened to take control of libraries in-house.

Geelong council mayor Trent Sullivan: “I am glad that the GRLC have been able to collaborate with the City to find a way not to close libraries. The council values the role that libraries play in the community and we were determined that all libraries in our region would remain open. We look forward to the GRLC minimising service impacts on the community through the means they have available.”

Originally published as Barwon Heads, Geelong West, Highton libraries to remain open