The sale of the Milton Library is one option that will be considered by Shoalhaven City Council a meeting to be held in Ulladulla on Tuesday December 16.
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Councillors will decide on the fate of the facility, with a recommendation to close the library and provide a monthly or fortnightly mobile library service, home library service and digital library.
Friends of Milton Library campaigner Alison Pakes is outraged by the council staff recommendation and is urging the community to take a stand in an effort to convince councillors to keep the library doors open.
She is calling on library supporters to turn out in droves to the meeting that will kick off at the Ulladulla Civic Centre at 4pm.
“This will be the final chance for the community to prevent the closure of this valuable asset,” she said.
“We need to convince councillors to vote down this recommendation.
"I am completely in shock after reading the recommendation of council staff that the library building be rezoned and sold."
Shoalhaven mayor Joanna Gash told the Times she would "keep an open mind" until the issue is discussed by councillors.
"I will have an open mind until the report is presented to us and council discusses the matter," she said.
"Of course the meeting is open for all in the community to attend."
Mrs Pakes said the shock recommendation was not included in the community consultation process.
"Only after the community consultation has closed do we get the real story," she added.
"I cannot believe that we have just been through a community consultation process which was classified as high impact to users and it is only now that this has been recommended.
"That was never put forward as an option in the consultation.
"I think the community has every right to feel deceived.
"I think everyone felt all along there was some hidden agenda and now at the 11th hour it finally comes to light. "
She said, while it was the recommendation made by staff, councillors could still vote for alternate options, including keeping the library open.
"We need the councillors to understand this is unacceptable.
"The community has been clear they want to keep their library.
"It is about time Councillors started listening to the people they represent.
"People need to write to councillors and express their outrage and come along to the meeting at the civic centre."
Council staff claim their recommendation to close the library "removes the duplication of services, which are available to residents seven kilometres away at Ulladulla Library" and "provides an estimated cost saving in excess of $50,000 per year and allocates the 13 staffing hours to the new Ulladulla Civic Centre, which has seen increased usage and needs additional staffing hours for its effective operation."
Council would also receive the proceeds of the sale of the property.
An option to retain the status quo, with the library to remain open at current operating schedule and library service provision to be reviewed in 12 months, was not recommended by staff because "it continues to over-service a small population to the detriment of the broader Shoalhaven".
A third option, to close Milton Library and enter into a community lease with the Ulladulla-Milton Lions Club to run a bookshop and café six days a week did not receive staff support as it was "not the most effective option in terms of helping to address council’s long term financial sustainability issues".
This option would provides the community with a space that is accessible at extended hours and could return a cost saving of between $27,000 and $50,000 per annum dependent on lease negotiated.
Mrs Pakes said a coffee shop in the building could impact on nearby cafes and she is urging business people to join the fight to svae the library.
She will speak at next Tuesday night’s Policy and Resources committee meeting in Nowra in an effort to sway council to retain and possibly expand the library services ahead of a review in 12 months’ time.
The community rallied to express their support for the library in October, with Member for South Coast and former councillor and teacher Shelley Hancock also indicating her desire to retain the village facility.
