WA Local Government Association calls on State Government for $34 million in public library funding

The State’s local government body has called on the WA Government to prioritise public libraries in the 2024-25 Budget after fresh data revealed library funding rose just four per cent in the last decade. In a submission to the State Government, the WA Local Government Association — a not-for-profit organisation supporting the local government sector — asked for $34 million towards the state’s 232 public libraries. Despite the WA population rising by 15 per cent in the past decade, public library funding has only increased from $16.3m to $16.9m (four per cent). “To provide the same per capita level of support to public libraries as a decade ago, funding through the State budget in 2023-24 would have needed to be $6.6m higher than the amount allocated,” WALGA’s submission reads. “It is estimated that annual increases for Consumer Price Index and population growth would require approximately $30m over four years to restore funding to previous levels and maintain service levels through the forward estimates.” Of the $34m, $30m would be used to restore public library funding to 2012-2013 levels, while the remaining $4m would be put towards the WA Public Library Strategy; a four-year plan that focuses on promoting libraries as an “essential community asset”. The WA Public Library Strategy does not currently receive any funding. “The State Government provides the books but the local governments provide the infrastructure, the technology and the resources (but) the library infrastructure is ageing,” WALGA president Karen Chappel said. “And yet there’s been no funding to assist local governments to lift the infrastructure and services to the level that our community requires. “We’re endeavouring to offer those services but the state government hasn’t seen that as a priority to lift that partnership fund.” According to WALGA, WA public libraries have more than 637,000 active members. “You’ve got to remember that of these 232 libraries, many of them are in small, rural, remote local government offices but some of them only offer books or e-books,” Ms Chappel said. “If your community hasn’t got a library there’s no access to books at all ... so it’s critical for local governments to provide that service and keep those bookshelves stacked.” Local author Gillian O’Shaughnessy described libraries as “cultural treasure houses” that offer a space for authors to connect with their readers. “The opportunities for writers to reach their audiences are a lot more slender than they have been in the past, but libraries just offer such a wonderful space for writers to gather and talk about their work and connect with readers,” O’Shaughnessy said. “I think libraries are cultural treasure houses and they democratise knowledge so that anyone can access it.” City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said the Vincent public library offered a number of free workshops and described libraries as the “hallmark of a civilised society”. “What we are finding increasingly is that our libraries are places where the community can come together and gather,” Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said. “That’s really important because it is safe, inclusive and means that people can study and read in peace, but also connect with other people and access digital services that otherwise are not available at home. “Quality libraries are a hallmark of a civilised society ... it really is core and that’s why it should be treated with such core funding.”