Library supporters are being urged to bring colourful banners and join a march through the village to the library where a rally will be held with speakers including State Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock, Shoalhaven Councillor Amanda Findlay and Milton book illustrator and Escape ARTfest co-ordinator Julie Sydenham.

Rally organiser and Save Milton Library campaigner Alison Pakes is encouraging people to show their support for the library before Shoalhaven City Council considers closing the facility.

She said rally goers would meet in the Anglican Church car park, at the corner of the Princes Highway at Church Street at 11am before marching their message through the village to the square outside the library.

“Bring along your signs, pickets and banners,” Alison said.

“The actual rally will be held outside the library, so anyone unable to march can meet there.”

She said there had been ongoing support for the library, with almost 3000 people signing a petition objecting to the closure.

“I know there are lots of people planning to come along on Saturday to join in the rally,” Alison added.

“We want to see council commit to keeping Milton Library open.

“At the very least we want to see council stand by its original promise to not go to community consultation on the closure of the library for 18 months from the date the new Ulladulla Library opened.

“How can any real decision be made on the continued use and support of Milton Library following the opening of Ulladulla based on only a few months of figures?” she asked.

Alison said the state government had committed an additional $15m of funding towards libraries in the state and she urged council to apply for a share of this funding.

“These funds could be used to keep Milton Library open,” she said.

“It is such a small cost to keep the library operating, a drop in the bucket in the whole council budget, for a service which is such a vital part of our community.”

All Shoalhaven Councillors have been invited to Saturday’s rally.

“I think it is great opportunity for all councillors to see the level of support for the library in the community,” Alison said.

“In particular I would like to see Cr Patricia White come along as she is the only local ward three councillor to vote for the closure of the library.”