The City of Gold Coast Council has demonstrated enormous support and value for our Local Arts Industry, as the sector continues to flourish, recording the highest growth period in the last 2 years, 2018-2019. The GC City Arts Team/ Safe& Liveable Communities Team, facilitated by GC Council, offered opportunities during the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions shortly after March 2020 and continue to do so.
This is evidence that The Arts Industry is a vital tool in delivering a diverse range of innovative creative and cultural activities to support community needs and the continual growth of ‘a vibrant and engaged community’- through visual-art, storytelling, social-networking, digital technology, exhibits, music, performance, festivals, and community gatherings.
A Library is a safe commonplace where these facets of ‘The Arts’ – can be accessed ‘Freely’ by local community, they embody the essence of ‘Placemakers’ – a place to discover, learn, explore, create and contribute towards personal/ professional development and/or participate in Community and Industry arts programmes.
“Libraries are not an indulgence. They can have a transformative power – especially for those marginalized, disenfranchised, alone, or simply open a world of stories and imagination to readers young and old.”
The Gold Coast is ranked 2nd highest in utilisation of library services in the Qld State, yet Gold Coast council funding to libraries is well below the average for the State (ranked 53rd). Source: Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2018-2019.
Local communities understand the important role Libraries play in supporting the economic, social and environmental well-being of their communities- and local governments have a responsibility to uphold that role facilitated by libraries- by providing these recreational, educational, and digital services to the community.
The Global pandemic, COVID-19 has brought about ‘economic uncertainty’ for many Australians – all over the country.It is very disconcerting the governing GC Council’ is wanting to close the Palm Beach Lounge & Library, stealthily making those decisions during a pandemic, when COVID 19 restrictions were in place, giving limited time frames for proper community consultation and response. Disheartening – considering during times of social uncertainty and the onset of a National recession, libraries become more beneficial to the community.
In the year of pandemic COVID-19, 2020 – now is not an option to be cutting community services.
“No other public service provides so much good for such little cost. Libraries should be left alone to do what they do best, protected by public servants who know their value.”
Apart from daily/weekly frequent users- 17 small community groups are known to have utilised ‘Palm Beach Lounge and Library, and for 8months in 2020, they have not been able to resume their community activities at Palm Beach Library, because the council has kept it closed since March 2020. I used Palm Beach Lounge and Library at least once/twice a week.
A quiet, warm, friendly, and inclusive place, sharing that space with culturally diverse, intergenerational, and disadvantaged members of our GC local community. Elanora Library is already operating over capacity shared with many users on bordering divisions – especially division 14. The population continues to grow especially in Palm Beach evident by the massive weight of current high-rise development.
“When the social and economic landscape is changing so quickly, it’s hard for the stats to keep up! – GC Population 540,559” (2016) Census.”
What is the population of the Gold Coast 2019? 620,518 people. https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/Estimated-Resident-Population-Gold-Coast-2019.pdf
Division 13 – 14,654 people Palm Beach, 12,145 people Elanora, 10,077 people Burleigh Heads = 36,876 people in 2016.
Division 14 – 2,920 people Currumbin,9,121 people Currumbin Waters, 1,849 people Currumbin Valley, 3,667 people Tallebudgera= 17,557 people in 2016.
“Libraries are a soft target for local authorities because they aren’t seen to be as vital as some other services. But for many people, especially young families, the unemployed and the elderly, who often can’t afford to buy books or travel easily to main libraries, the loss of a branch library would impoverish their quality of life.”
It is a fundamental role of all our division Gold Coast local Councillors – in continuing to represent the current and future interests of the residents of the whole local government area, not just the residents in their division or the area where they live. As a local community engaged Visual Artist, I am appealing to all local division councilors , – to show compassion during COVID-19 for ‘our local communities and disadvantaged’, by recognising the vital importance of the role of libraries in our fast growing population.
Libraries- like schools, are the cornerstone of all Literacy. This Tuesday 8th December 2020, at the Lifestyle and Community Committee meeting, I ask them all to vote to “Restore Palm Beach Lounge and Library services” as an important community service for all who use it, and for those who will come to need it. I plead with them – Please do not deprive the community of necessary community services especially during ‘Times of COVID-19 ’.
I thank those Councillors who cast a ‘YES’ vote to ” Save Palm Beach Library – for the social welfare of those who need it and their support for the continual growth of Literacy within the Gold Coast community .
Charleen Morris , with quotes from others that understand the importance of Library– Resident of Palm Beach