Page 3466 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 14 November 2006
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On the other hand, at the recommendation of the Council of Australian State Libraries, the government commissioned Dr Veronica Lunn of the Queensland-based AEC Consulting Group to review the totality of library services in the ACT. Dr Lunn is a librarian and she has a national and international reputation as a library practitioner, researcher and consultant. She recently completed her review of ACT library and information services and I table her report. For the information of members it will be available on the Department of Territory and Municipal Services website, www.TAMS.act.gov.au, from tomorrow morning. It will take this evening to load it up. It will be available when you get to work tomorrow.
Dr Lunn, who is a national expert in library services, sought to identify a more sustainable and efficient service delivery model for ACT library and information services and to position the services to meet the needs of a growing population. A key objective was to develop a service model that could be resourced within a climate of fiscal responsibility and that would enable a forward strategy for the library service.
The review comprised process analysis, site visits, benchmarking, financial and performance analysis, as well as best practice information from other library services. Staff consultation comprised a significant portion of the review and the review project team played an important role in developing ideas for further testing and in discussing options. A range of submissions was also received from staff within the library and from the management team.
Among other recommendations, the review recommended that Griffith library should close. Whilst I have tabled that review, not all of the recommendations have been accepted or totally considered as yet; they are still being evaluated. So I do not want the house to jump to the conclusion that every recommendation there has been accepted by government at this point.
It is sad that such a landmark institution will close. It is unfortunate that the users will need to go elsewhere. No-one likes change and we all wish that Canberra would remain as it was when John Howard was a boy and money poured in from a Prime Minister who lived in the Lodge and understood the need for a capital that the nation could be proud of. It is regrettable but those times are gone.
The decision to close Griffith library was difficult and not made any easier by the fact that I know the passion and commitment with which the south Canberra community defend facilities in that region. However, the Stanhope government remains committed to providing a first-class library service that is accessible to all Canberrans. Books and other material will be shuttled from one centre to another for collection by users at the library closest to them. The home and mobile lending library services will continue. I will be making submissions to the cabinet for further funding to upgrade services and systems. I am not able to anticipate the outcome of those submissions but they will be made.
There are two main reasons why Griffith library is closing. The first of these is usage. All branch libraries recorded growth in their business levels for January to July 2005 and January to July 2006, with the exception of Belconnen and Griffith. Service interruptions at Belconnen due to a major facility upgrade account for Belconnen’s
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