Librarians worry about local government review by The NZPA

Librarians worried that a review of local government will hurt public libraries are urging supporters to write to the Government. I appears as thought libraries are not listed as a core Local Governemnt Service.
Library and Information Association of New Zealand/Aotearoa chairwoman Barbara Garriock is asking people to send postcards to MPs to make sure the place of public libraries is not forgotten in any change to the Local Government Act.
"We understand the Government wants local government to focus on core, front line services. What could be more front line and core in a democracy than a public library?" Ms Garriock said.
The Government is currently looking at what councils do and whether they should be restricted in the services they offer in an attempt to rein in rates.
Ms Garriock said libraries should be locked in as a core service of local government as they were the most used council facility by choice.
"There is no law protecting public libraries in New Zealand. At Lianza we think public libraries deserve surety equal to dog control and/or parks and reserves," Ms Garriock said.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is due to report to Cabinet on the Local Government Act review by the end of August.
In a cabinet paper Mr Hide put the case for the review of local government to examine its role and seek greater transparency. He also suggested holding referenda before major spending was undertaken.
Mr Hide said while councils may include spending plans in annual reports, they did not tend to campaign on spending issues during election campaigns and it was hard for ratepayers to have influence.
A recent Internal Affairs report found income from rates would increase 47 percent over next decade, and debt would double to more than $10 billion. However, drivers were price and population increases and compliance costs plus community expectations about services provided.
Asked earlier in the year if core services would include art galleries, swimming pools and council flats, Mr Hide said they would "up to a point".
He said councils were investing a lot of money in quite risky ventures and gave examples of Lotto shops, banks, hotels and property development.
Prime Minister John Key has said what local councils spent their money on and how much they spend was up to them, and he did not support capping their expenditure.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5722085/librarians-worry-about-local-government-review/