Page 3475 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 14 November 2006
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Mr Pratt: I know that.
MS PORTER: Volunteers will continue to play a valuable and important role in the library service, such as the volunteers in the home library service, which will continue, but, of course, they will not be taking the role of paid professional staff. Mr Pratt, I hear what you say, that you know that.
Mr Pratt: I did not say to replace them.
MS PORTER: Right. I said if I heard you correctly. Members would be aware that the Griffith library has occupied part of the old Griffith primary school building since 1994. However, whilst refurbishment of that facility was undertaken in 1993 to enable the library to move there, the building now requires significant additional capital investment to address issues such as airconditioning reliability and upgrading of the water and sewerage systems, which is also required, because they are now well over 50 years old.
Mr Speaker, infrastructure of that age requires constant maintenance, the cost of which, of course, is quite significant. In addition, modern public library service design principles place strong emphasis on overt security measures, such as lines of sight throughout the library building, particularly in the children’s, internet and public toilet areas. Given the existing layout, that is simply impossible at the Griffith site. Given the continuing decline in patronage, together with the current design and layout of the Griffith library, the cost of upgrading the facility is simply not sustainable. Regrettably, the government had no option but to make the difficult decision that it has.
The ACT public library services are well utilised and highly regarded. In 2005-06, 1.96 million visits were made to its branches, 2.65 million loans were made, and there were more than two million hits on the library website and over 260,000 retrievals of information from the online full text database service, as well as 157,000 hours of free public internet use accessed in the branches. However, at the same time as feeling justifiably pleased with all of these figures which show the usage of the service, we must ensure that our public library service remains relevant to the community it serves. The library facilities must meet industry standards and the service must be well placed to respond to changing demographics and developments in technology. Mr Speaker, whilst having to make this decision to close Griffith library is regrettable, it must be considered in this context.
MR SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.
Adjournment
Motion Mr Hargreaves proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
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