Tauranga Library Books Remain Free

Tauranga City Councillors have decided not to introduce new charges on the borrowing of adult books from public libraries - instead 'Top Title' loan prices will go up $1.
This means 'Top Title' books will go from $2 to $3 and DVDs from $3 to $4.

Councillors have also voted to halve the time DVDs can be loaned for and reduced the maximum number of books people can borrow from 99 to 20.

Library staff wanted the number reduced to 40, but councillors felt that was too many and supported Councillor David Stewart's motion for a 20 book maximum.

This will be trialled for six months.

Councillors also changed their minds on an earlier decision to reduce book numbers, and instead will increase stocks slightly, from 2.35 items per head to 2.6 items per head.

The public pressure that led to the change, including about 900 submissions on the issue during public consultation, was referred to by all councillors.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says the process had been a very good one.

David Stewart says he warned councillors not to underestimate the community reaction.

Rick Curach says they all thought the proposal sounded reasonable around the council table, but the community reaction showed they were wrong.

Catherine Stewart says publicity over the $500,000 library charges issue served as a smokescreen while other costs and charges are unopposed.

The council has approved spending $847,000 on the art gallery, which will still not charge for admission, says Catherine.

Hayden Evans carried on the theme saying the council is also spending $10 million on the Mount Hot Pools upgrade, $41 million on the Tauranga Indoor Sports and Exhibition Centre, $500,000 on Priority One and $250,000 on Sport BOP.

Wayne Moultrie says the moment he decided the library charges were bad was when a solo mother of two boys told him she would stop buying bread to pay them.

Andrew Campbell, 31 May 2010
Reproduced with permission from Sun Media Ltd.
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