RESIDENTS are being encouraged to “use it or lose it” as part of a campaign to save the Milton Library from closure.
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The Friends of Milton Library community group has taken up the fight to raise the profile of the library which could close later this year, following the opening of the new, larger library in Ulladulla.
Group founder Alison Pakes said she felt it was important to have a central group to coordinate community efforts to keep the facility open following a decision at the last Shoalhaven City Council meeting to postpone community consultation until October.
“Even though the community consultation process will not start to October, we want to keep the discussion going on the library,” Mrs Pakes said.
“As a group we think it is important to help coordinate community response, keep track of when submissions to council need to be in and in what form those submissions need to be.”
She said it was important for supporters to continue using the library.
“We encourage everyone to continue to use the library, particularly once the Ulladulla library opens,” Mrs Pakes added.
“Council seems to be using borrowings as a measure of its use, so residents need to be borrowing items rather than just using them in the library.”
She said the group has been “overwhelmed with offers of support and assistance” via its Facebook page since its formation,.
ARTfest coordinator Julie Sydenham has joined the group and is keen to help brainstorm ideas, while member for South Coast Shelley Hancock has also lent her support to the campaign.
Mrs Pakes said the group was distributing a petition being organised by Cr Mark Kitchener, but added that it was only one element of the community campaign.
“Plans are underway for large public rallies in town as a visual show of support for the library,” she said.
“We want the whole community there to send a loud and clear message to council that we will fight for our library.
“We want to make sure the rally has maximum effect in terms of the consultation process.”
The proposed rally date and time will be announced soon.
Mrs Pakes said many local parents had contacted the group and were keen to take up the fight.
“They tell us their children have been visiting the library since they were toddlers and cannot believe that their library could soon be closed.
“We are finalising our own colouring page for kids which includes a section where kids can write why the library is important to them and these will be sent to council.”
She said the group understood council’s “need to get the budget in order”.
“We think the focus should be on obtaining efficiencies in the services it offers rather than closing services altogether, particularly in small communities with few services,” Mrs Pakes said.
“We encourage those on Facebook to like our page to keep up to date or email us at savemiltonlibrary@gmail.com with ideas and comments.”