More than 50 South Wairarapa residents have made submissions about reduced library hours across the district, just one week into the two-week consultation process.
Submitters have expressed dismay and disappointment at the reduced hours at the Featherston, Martinborough, and Greytown libraries. Many have focused on Featherston – New Zealand’s official ‘Booktown’ – and cuts to its Saturday opening, given it’s a commuter town.
The reduction in the district’s library opening hours comes hard on the heels of South Wairarapa District Council [SWDC] increasing rates by 19.8 per cent – one of the highest rates increases in New Zealand.
People have pointed in particular to the impact on schoolchildren and pensioners across the district. Some have acknowledged the financial knock-on effect on adjacent hospitality facilities, like Knucklebone Cafe in Martinborough.
Featherston Library is now scheduled to close every Saturday, with Martinborough and Greytown closing on alternate Saturdays. Other changes mean all three libraries will be closed some weekdays as well.
“It’s a depressing state of affairs that the local authority is unable to resource local libraries sufficiently, in a region growing in its national reputation for literary promotion,” said one submitter.
“As a long-time Featherston resident and ratepayer, I am disgusted and appalled to learn of the reduction to our library hours. Losing Wednesday is bad enough, but Saturday as well!! That is so unfair. I work full time and don’t drive, and reading is my life! Featherston Library is my second home,” said another.
South Wairarapa District Council [SWDC] decided to review the new schedule early, after what it described as “robust debate from the community” on changed library days.
Yesterday morning [10 July], about 52 submissions had been received, with a week to go.
The submissions so far generally oppose the new hours.
“I just wanted to express my disappointment over the reduction in service of Featherston Library, and other South Wairarapa libraries in the new hours announced last week,” said one submitter, describing how a weekly ritual with her son will now not be possible as the library will be shut that day.
“We can’t simply change our day due to day-care hours and work schedules. All in all, it’s pretty heartbreaking. The library has helped foster a love of reading in our son, and we will miss this place terribly,” the submitter said.
“I am opposed to the reduction of library hours throughout South Wairarapa. The libraries are a vital community hub, providing not only books but a haven for anyone who might need it,” said another.
“The decision to reduce hours in Featherston is embarrassing given that Featherston is positioning itself as ‘NZs only Booktown’,” said yet another.
“Featherston is Booktown. It can hardly accept that title when, on what appears to be the busiest day in town, the library is closed,” said another.
The decision to cut library hours followed SWDC passing a resolution to cut the budget available for casual library staff, as part of the annual plan process.
“We realise not everyone would be aware of these decisions and their full impact,” a SWDC statement announcing the library hours review noted.
However, one submitter took issue with this.
“Nowhere in that consultation document did it say that SWDC was planning on systematically cutting library hours. According to that document, the only thing on the table was ‘a pool of casual Library staff to cover leave’,” they said.
“The Council has chosen to schedule fixed days for when each library will be open rather than close on an ad-hoc basis that library users expressed was inconvenient. We accept that communications on the changes to our library hours could have been better for the level of community interest in these services,” the SWDC statement said.
People wanting to express their views can send feedback to [email protected] before 6 pm on 16 July.
– NZLDR
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
