Move to close Barwon Heads, Geelong West, Highton libraries as manager told to find $1m in savings

Voted in after fighting library closures, Geelong councillor Ron Nelson, right, has resigned from library management after major changes proposed at 10 sites.

A community campaign in 2017 overturned a move to close Chilwell, Highton and Barwon Heads libraries. Ron Nelson, far right, was involved at the time. Picture: Nathan Dyer

The manager of the region’s libraries is proposing to close three sites and cut opening hours at seven other locations from July, because it says the City of Greater Geelong council won’t adequately pay for the operation.

The Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation (GRLC), which operates 19 libraries and three mobile libraries, was effectively told to find more than $1.1m of savings when the Geelong council draft budget was released last month.

While the GRLC’s funding from Geelong council is due to rise by about $240,000 to $13.95m in 2023-24, sources said it won’t cover the annual $1.11m cost to run the recently opened multi-million-dollar Drysdale library, and the Armstrong Creek library due to open next year.

MORE: Numbers war threatens to sink libraries

Chair of the GRLC board Ron Nelson has resigned. Picture: Mike Dugdale

GRLC CEO Vanessa Schernickau. Picture: Mike Dugdale

GRLC chief executive Vanessa Schernickau said the corporation proposed to close the Drysdale library on Sundays, among other changes, due to the funding shortfall.

“In response to this shortfall includes the proposed closure of three libraries at Barwon Heads, Geelong West and Highton libraries and the transition of Chilwell library to an unstaffed model,” Ms Schernickau said.

“Other impacts include Corio and Boronggook Drysdale libraries closing on Sundays; Belmont, Boronggook Drysdale, Corio, Lara, Leopold, Ocean Grove and Waurn Ponds libraries closing earlier on Saturdays; a reduction in services at the Geelong Heritage Centre.”

“The last thing we want to do is close libraries and reduce services to the communities that we serve, or to impact our staff.

“But with the COGG draft budget as it stands we have been left with no choice. A funding

shortfall of this size cannot be found by reducing programs or events, or small modifications to our operating models.”

The library at Drysdale is named Boronggook, pronounced Bo-rong-gook, Drysdale library.

Boronggook is the traditional Wadawurrung name for the area and means turf.

Ms Schernickau said funding to operate libraries in all council areas the GRLC covered was adequate expect in Greater Geelong.

“As part of discussions with all five member councils, we asked for a two per cent increase for the 2023/24 budget. Our request is below CPI and just in line with the two per cent staff remuneration increase as per our Enterprise Agreement, which all other funding councils agreed to.”

The corporation operates libraries in the Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Surf Coast council areas.

Newtown resident Lynne Dowling, who previously campaigned against library closures said: “This is about communities and libraries are essential to communities. (If these close) it would be devastating, libraries in Covid were proven to be extremely important.”

The proposed move to shut libraries prompted the resignation of GRLC board chair Ron Nelson on Friday.

Mr Nelson will continue in his role as a City of Greater councillor.

“I cannot be on a board which I believe do not have proper regard for the needs of the Greater Geelong residents,” Mr Nelson said.

“I believe the Library Corporation’s substantially healthy financial cash reserves can support ongoing library stability.”

“My passion and advocacy for libraries and resources that support everyone in our community is unwavering.

Mr Nelson was elected to council after he was involved in a 2017 campaign against the proposed closure of Highton, Chilwell and Barwon Heads libraries.

Ms Schernickau said there would be no redundancies for permanent staff in the 2023-24 financial year as a result of the proposed moves but vacant roles may not be filled.

“Libraries are a fundamental part of healthy communities.... and are one of the last free, safe, warm, inclusive spaces that exist in modern society.

“During these tough economic times with so many local residents feeling the pinch we’re seeing people flock to the library, whether for free WiFi to look for jobs

or do homework, or a warm place to be with young children while and attend our free baby time or story time sessions.

“More than 29,000 people attended vital early years literacy programs last financial year.”

“Almost a million people walked through the doors of our libraries last financial year, and in the first fortnight alone at the new Boronggook Drysdale Library we welcomed more than 10,000 people.”

When Geelong council was under adminstration in 2017, a move to close Chilwell, Highton and Barwon Heads libraries was overturned following a wave of community backlash.

In 2017 it was reported that it cost about $58,000 a year to run Barwon Heads library.

A petition of 2500 signatures was tabled with council to save the Highton library in 2017.

The GRLC and the Geelong council draft budgets are available for public comment.

Originally published as Move to close Barwon Heads, Geelong West, Highton libraries as manager told to find $1m in savings