Thursday the 29th of November is a Day of Action to improve funding for New South Wales Public Libraries. According to an ALIA press release, “funding for these libraries has decreased from 23.6% of the total operating costs of public libraries in 1980 to 7.8% in 2004-05 with further reductions in years since then. The State budget for 2006-07 included a massive cut of $1,023,000 (4.16%).”

ALIA supports the NSW Day of Action

Public Libraries New South Wales (PLNSW) has some practical things you can do to support the campaign on their website.

• Sign the petition
• Put up their posters
• Show the community what cuts to services may mean in real terms.

Their suggestions for this last one include removing high profile parts of the collection for the day, declining any requests for interlibrary loans, and leaving the news books display bare.

At Parliament House, Macquarie St., Sydney there will be a protest rally at 11.00am. According to the PLNSW website this starting time is yet to be confirmed.

Campaign - Imagine NSW without public libraries - (PLNSW)