The Penola community library is staying put at the local high school after a Wattle Range Council proposal to shift it to the Penola Visitor Information Centre was rejected by 73% of survey participants.
The council is in the process of redesigning the Penola information centre and thought it was an opportune time to gather feedback on the possibility of it also housing the community library.
Council undertook formal community consultation with almost three-quarters of respondents opting for the status quo.
The survey results were presented by staff to the August monthly council meeting in Millicent along with a five-strong deputation from the Penola Library Book Club headed by Eleanor Burrow.
Council’s development services director Emma Clay tabled a 52-page report detailing the survey results.
Ms Clay said council staff recommended Wattle Range Council review the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Penola High School for a three-year term ensuring both parties are fully informed on what is required under the terms of this agreement.
She said council staff will continue to work with the high school and will attend the Penola School Community Library Stakeholder Working Group meetings.
According to Ms Clay, the principals of Penola’s two primary schools supported the library’s move to the information centre.
During her 15-minute presentation, Ms Burrow said Book Club members viewed the move of the community library as a retrograde step which would negatively impact Penola.
“It has served us well for 43 years,” Ms Burrow said.
She said the current facility was spacious and welcoming, used each day by the secondary students and had room for its 20,000 books.
According to Ms Burrow, there was ample parking at Penola High School and its library had a special room for children’s activities.
She said books and magazines were available out of hours at such places as the Town Square Little Library, St Mary’s Op Shop and at Penola’s newsagent and supermarket.
Councillor Emma Castine said the survey proponents had gone too early and had not taken the town with them.
She said council had heard “loud and clear” about the relocation proposal.
Mayor Des Noll commended Ms Clay for her work on the consultation.
“Seventy-three percent is a clear indicator,” Mayor Noll said.
“The [re-location] question has been answered and the direction is clear.”
Council chief executive Ben Gower said there had been a concerted “no” campaign.
Mr Gower said council staff had been tempted to respond but opted instead for a neutral position.
Cr John Drew said he was a school principal in the 1970s when the concept of joint use school/community libraries came to South Australia.
Cr Drew said inadequate funding was provided at that time by the Dunstan Labor Government.
“It was a second-best option,” Cr Drew said.
“The Penola VIC location would be a better location for the two primary schools but you cannot go against the wishes of the community.
“Perhaps we can look at this 10 years down the track.”
The motion to note the relocation proposal survey results was moved by Cr Dale Price and seconded by Cr Dennis Muhovics.
Penola High School principal Steve Carli-Seebohm has welcomed the council decision not to act on the relocation proposal in his public commentary but said the survey has generated some further investigations.
Mr Carli-Seebohm gave an example of the possibility of the library opening on Saturday mornings.
“We have been involved and engaged in a number of community-based discussions, as part of the Wattle Range Council’s exploration of the idea to relocate the Penola School Community Library,” Mr Carli-Seebohm said.
“The survey indicated we still have some hard work and challenges ahead to meet a number of community needs, and I’m excited about what the future may bring in satisfying the wishes of Penola library users.”
