The East Gippsland Shire is undertaking a review of its service centres across the shire with proposals to reduce operating hours of libraries a hot topic.
In an online statement the shire states it is undertaking the review to ensure it balances community service proposition, looks at areas of under or over servicing, and addresses how it servcies growing service channels in a financially sustainable way.
Lakes Entrance Service Centre’s current hours are 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, however council’s recommendation is to change to 9am to 2pm Monday and Friday and 9am to 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, which will clip 8.5 hours off per week.
Council encourages feedback via a survey.
Julia Ditterich, who is president of Friends of the Library Lakes Entrance (FOLLE), together with her committee, has been encouraging the community to resist the shire’s proposed changes by signing a petition and voicing their disapproval to council.
IMAGE: Elaine Medhurst, from Just Books, supports a petition to not cut opening hours at East Gippsland Shire’s Lakes Entrance business centre and library. Council has proposed to drop the operating hours by 8.5 hours per week and is calling for community feedback, which closes on June 30.
