Tomorrow night (Wed 20 Feb, 6.30pm) Rockdale City Council will discuss the future of the proposed new main library.
Thirty years ago, the main library was demolished and the new council office building was built on that site. The library was relocated to the old Town Hall as a temporary measure, and has remained there since. Planning for a new main library has come and gone a couple of times since then with no result. Recently, longer term planning for the future of the city has identified goals out to 2025, and planning for a new main library began anew. it was slated for approval in September 2012, but with the council elections held around the same time, it was decided to delay a final thumbs up until the incoming councillors could understand the need, the plan, and the finances, estimated to be around $16m, with some exclusions.
It's been a long wait. That's not to say that libraries in Rockdale have been left to rack and ruin. There are five branches attached to the main library, and for a smallish geographic area, that's quite a few. Arncliffe branch was refurbished just last year, and the Sans Souci branch renovation is advanced in planning. The main library has done a lot, but has been constrained by a recalcitrant space.
There are many calls on the finances of any Council. Rockdale residents have recently been surveyed to ask which services they could live without, if they don't agree to a rate increase. Council has recently moved to plan and build a replacement swimming centre at Bexley, another infrastructure item that has a long planning history, and comes with a price tag of around $30m. And, I suppose the elephant in the room, and one that is always present for Councils in St George (Rockdale, Kogarah, and Hurstville), is possible future amalgamation. The area has three small councils in an area comparable to some individual council LGA's in Sydney, so is an obvious example.
But, just how hard can it be to get this project up and
running? It should be easy to vote for a project that benefits every resident,
regardless of whether they are old, young, play sport, are working, are caring
for family, are studying, can’t use a computer, can’t read English or can’t
read at all. Or all of those at once. When I look at the timeline of action
since the library was relocated, I can’t help but wonder about the two periods
of 10 years that seemingly passed by with no action. 10 years. That’s close to
the entire schooling of a child. Given
the 30 years since the move to the temporary location, that’s a whole
generation. In this area that’s big changes in sources of migration, in the
density of housing, in education, and technology. In 30 years all communities
have changed the way they live, the way they work, the way they learn, the way they
connect with their community. The demographics clearly show that the area has a larger than average
group of families with school aged children, a larger than average group of
families who don’t speak English at home, households increasingly living in higher
density, and all in an area of relative socio economic disadvantage. It’s a
community with dreams for the future. This kind of community needs a great
public library. A well-designed and resourced public library gives the entire
community opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist. Opportunities to learn
new things throughout their whole lives, opportunities to quietly study away
from busy homes, opportunities to meet others of like minds, opportunities to
use wi-fi without ordering fries, opportunities to participate in civic matters
by viewing and commenting on council documents and plans on display.
The draft Rockdale Town Centre Master Plan has called for a
civic “heart” for the city, and the library is a large part of that. Residents
can’t help but look at our near neighbours in St George and see how the library
and town square at Kogarah, and the Library Museum Gallery model at Hurstville
have each become a focus for cultural activities and community gatherings in
their own areas, a real heart for their cities. After such a long time, I really
hope the Rockdale councillors decide to finally deliver.
If you are near Rockdale, why not go down to the meeting
tomorrow night? ALIA is hoping that Executive Director Sue McKerracher might address the public forum. Or if you live in Rockdale why not email your local ward
councillors today? If you live elsewhere, send out some love to your local
public library by posting on their Facebook site about something you appreciate
about them, a great collection, or service.
Public libraries can be the beating heart of a community, given the chance.
Lauren
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