NSW Public Libraries Association proposes Day of Action to protest lack of funding

The NSW Public Libraries Association (NSWPLA) is planning a Day of Action for Friday 5 December to draw attention to the need for increased library funding.

The Day of Action is part of NSWPLA’s ongoing campaign for greater funding, which launched in April 2014. The NSW government provides the lowest per capita rate of library funding of all the states in Australia.

President of the NSW Public Libraries Association Graham Smith said in a statement: ‘The Day of Action allows community members across the state to support their local councils and libraries in the desperate plea to the State Government for increased and sustainable funding for the 370 public libraries in NSW. They are a vital community service that we cannot afford to lose. Over 70,000 community members have signed petitions demanding a better deal for their libraries. That is a very compelling swell of opinion from a large number of voters.’

Ideas for action include shutting libraries for the day, draping shelves in black, inviting friends and supporters to attend the library, and staging ‘read-ins’ in a public place. The Twitter hashtag for the Day of Action is #DoANSWPLA.

Category: Library news