COMMUNITY consultation over the future of Milton Library steps up next week when Shoalhaven City Council hosts the first of two drop in sessions.
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Organised to give local residents a chance to find out information and provide feedback, the first drop-in sessions is being held at the library from 4pm to 6pm on Thursday, October 30.
It will be followed by a second session at the Ulladulla Civic Centre on Monday, November 3, from 4pm to 6pm.
Council is also calling on people to make comments or suggestions on the future of the Milton Library to council’s website www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au, by emailing council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au, by writing to the general manager, PO Box 42, Nowra, 2541, or by attending council’s offices in Nowra.
Council has also created a web page at www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/My-Council/Current-Projects/Milton-Library-Service-Review to provide information on proposals for the library’s future, and accept online submissions.
Plans put forward by council staff originally proposed putting four options to the community – including two of closing the library and replacing it with a mobile library while leasing out the library building or giving it over for community use, cutting hours to one day a week or retaining the status quo for 12 months.
However that appears to have changed, with information sent to local residents this week including discussion about “alternative options and ideas as offered by the community”.
While that option has been put on the table for discussion and feedback, much of the documentation sent out by council appears to continue the argument for closing the Milton Library.
It states on more than one occasion how, “The northern Shoalhaven is serviced by the Nowra Library, the central Shoalhaven by Sanctuary Point Library and the southern Shoalhaven by the new Ulladulla Library.
“The Ulladulla Library is in the new Ulladulla Civic Centre facility, which council has invested over $9 million in redeveloping.
“Milton Library replicates services provided at Ulladulla Library, which is 7km away,” the information states.
It also spells out plans to provide mobile library services, home library services and digital resources to residents in Milton and surrounding areas if the library closes.
Much of the information sent out to residents is dedicated to statistics pointing to the low usage levels of Milton Library, however some of the figures are clearly wrong, calling the whole lot into question.
While questions remain over the future of Milton Library, it has been excluded from celebrations of local library services.
Free events have been planned to celebrate the diverse range of programs and events available in local libraries, but nothing has been scheduled for the Milton Library.
Instead the Nowra Library will host authors’ talks, free hearing tests and a visit by librarians on motorbikes, while the Sanctuary Point Library will be the venue for three writing workshops, a couple of storytime sessions and a rhymetime gathering.
Ulladulla Library is hosting a storytime session and a rhymetime group on the morning on Wednesday, November 12, but nothing is planned for the Milton Library.
