By Eleanor Wilson
Casey Cardinia Libraries is advocating for increased funding for its libraries ahead of the state election, holding concerns library funding is going backwards.
Casey Cardinia Libraries chief executive officer Beth Luppino said current state government funding for libraries is not keeping pace with population growth and inflation.
“Our libraries are a valuable resource for the whole community, we provide services for every age and stage of life,” Ms Luppino said.
“We want to see an increase in the recurrent funding for public libraries from the State Government to enable us to provide the appropriate level of services to our growing region now and in the future.”
Ms Luppino invited Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas to Hampton Park Library on Tuesday 26 July to discuss the funding requests and to receive a tour of the services available at the library, which includes a kids corner, computer area and an extensive section of books in languages other than English.
CCL’s advocacy ahead of the election includes requests for an investment of $8.2 million over two years for the Libraries Change Lives fund, which would enable libraries to support communities recovering from the literacy, health and wellbeing impacts of the pandemic.
“The Libraries Change Lives fund would help support localised programs in public libraries throughout the state to help address gaps in service provision at a local level, support and enable libraries to provide targeted programs,” Ms Luppino said.
Casey Cardinia Libraries is also advocating for an investment of $10 million over two years to deliver facilities and infrastructure that will enable the South East based libraries to keep pace with technological changes.
“The Living Libraries Infrastructure fund, as the program is known, has already helped the City of Casey deliver upgraded library spaces in Cranbourne, and soon at Endeavour Hills,” Ms Luppino said.
“We want to see the State Government boost this fund to enable more new libraries in growth areas, and the renewal of existing infrastructure in areas where libraries are heavily used, but the spaces are tired and worn – this includes Hampton Park and our Doveton libraries.”
Mr Maas said libraries are a central part of lively and active communities.
“We have to keep ensuring that libraries continue to be funded, so they can evolve to incorporate things like digital libraries to keep up with the pace of technology,” Mr Maas said.
“To be a real part of a community hub is so vitally important, especially when we think about the socioeconomics of Hampton Park, it’s important that this library is funded in a way that supports the needs of the community.”
