Victoria's second-largest council area is set to lose three libraries and see opening hours slashed at seven others, as Geelong's council cuts costs to help "stay afloat" amid financial pressures.
The coastal city's libraries are the latest victims of the council's move to tighten its belt, leaving staff "distressed" and community members facing the loss of assets that have become havens for some residents escaping cost-of-living pressures.
The Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation (GRLC), which operates 19 libraries across Geelong and neighbouring regions, announced its plans to make the changes as a result of a funding shortfall from the City of Greater Geelong.
The GRLC board voted on the decision on Thursday evening, after Geelong council's draft budget failed to include $1.118 million in funding to cover the initial running costs of two new libraries being built in the city, and the extra $1.8 million in ongoing annual funding needed for the new venues.
Barwon Heads, Highton and Geelong West libraries will all be closed and staff redeployed by September 30 under the GRLC's draft budget document, while all libraries — excluding the Geelong Library — will now be closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays across the region.
Current vacancies across the GRLC will not be filled, and the Chilwell Library will move to an "unstaffed model".
It is also understood the GRLC will undertake a review of its services to determine further savings required in the upcoming financial year, and make operational changes to service levels to save up to $700,000 annually to operate the new Armstrong Creek Library in coming years.
Highton Library users on Friday were shocked to hear their library was earmarked for closure.
Betty, who asked not to use her full name, said some locals would be left behind by the move, as travelling to the nearest remaining library would not be easy for those without cars.
"I do appreciate the fact the library is here," she said from the steps of Highton Library.
"People like me who do like to read, we'll miss the library.
"I would have to go to Belmont [if Highton does close]. I'm lucky I'm still able to drive so that's OK, but driving isn't going to last forever."
Another library user, Kaz, said the Highton Library was an important resource for locals who not only needed access to books, but also the space itself and various other services provided.
"It's going to be hard if it goes, especially for older people," Kaz said.
City of Greater Geelong acting CEO Kaarina Phyland said the organisation was facing "difficult decisions as it looks to keep the city financially sustainable".
Ms Phyland said the city was assisting GRLC in identifying where they could make savings.
"The city values the role that libraries play in our community and have requested the GRLC not close any libraries, but rather tighten their belt with our community's needs front of mind," Ms Phyland said.
Ms Phyland did not directly refer to the funding shortfall created by adding two new libraries to the GRLC.
Library operator warns of loss of precious community spaces in tough economic times
GRLC CEO Vanessa Schernickau told the ABC the speed of the decision from the council had made a difficult situation even harder, and left the organisation with "no choice".
"There's just been no process," Ms Schernickau said. "When something is rushed like this it's really difficult to make informed decisions that are communicated as they should be.
"We've got distressed staff this morning … our staff care so much about their customers, they're not just distressed for themselves, they're distressed for our customers and the impact on those people."
Ms Schernickau said libraries played a "fundamental" role in communities, providing free wi-fi and a warm place to be with young children during touch economic times — adding that more than 29,000 people attended vital early years literacy programs last financial year.
"Libraries are one of the last free, safe, warm, inclusive spaces that exist in modern society," she said.
GRLC board member and Golden Plains councillor Owen Sharkey labelled the city's funding shortfall "one of the most unstrategic decisions that I've seen".
"[It's] essentially just pulling the carpet from underneath the whole organisation," Cr Sharkey said. "Playing with people's livelihoods."
Local Labor MP decries 'absolute disgrace'
Geelong state Labor MP Christine Couzens, who has been highly critical of governance at the City of Greater Geelong in recent months, said the libraries' funding shortfall was "totally unacceptable".
"It's an absolute disgrace really," Ms Couzens said. "I would call on the councillors to get some backbone and stand up and say this is totally unacceptable and it needs to change."
"Libraries like West Geelong are utilised every single day, it's always crowded. And the people in there using the computers, they have toddler time, support for young families, there's so much that goes on in that library.
"These people sitting in their ivory tower – the massive new city hall building – have no idea what they're doing to the community. It is so destructive."
The City of Greater Geelong released its draft budget late last month, earmarking a host of cost-cutting measures including putting about $82 million worth of projects put on hold.
While the budget included about $14 million for the GRLC in 2023-24, the funding was below what was requested to support the operation of new libraries recently opened in Drysdale and under construction in Armstrong Creek.
When delivering the draft budget, mayor Trent Sullivan said it aimed to ensure the organisation "can literally stay afloat", amid major financial pressure driven by an unexpected $130m increase in costs of major projects.
