More Than A Library - Opinion Piece By Councillor Ash-Lee Johnson

In the many conversations I have had with residents recently it is clear that the conversation around Gordon White Library goes beyond the library itself. It has become a conversation about how decisions are made and whether the community is being brought along on the journey.

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There was an expectation that last week's council meeting would see this topic debated in the chamber. Instead, the matter was deferred for another month. The important point is that no decision has been made on the future of Gordon White Library yet.

Over the past few weeks, the Gordon White Library has been a frequent topic of conversation with residents across our community. What I am hearing is not opposition to change. People understand that council has to plan for the future and that libraries will continue to evolve over time. What they do want to understand is, what any proposed changes could mean for their community and why these ideas are only being raised now, rather than being part of earlier discussions.

The library means different things to different people. For some, it is where their children first discovered a love of reading. For others, it is a place for students to study or for seniors to socially connect or simply spend time. It is no surprise that the community want an opportunity to contribute to the discussion.

One of the reasons I put my hand up for council was to represent community and make sure local voices are heard. That is why I believe consultation and process matters. The questions I keep hearing are: Why has this proposal started to emerge now?What problem is it really trying to solve? What is the real social impact for the people who use and value the library? They are reasonable questions and people deserve clear answers.

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Council is often faced with tough decisions and I appreciate that people may not agree with every outcome. What matters is that our community can have confidence that decisions have been properly considered and that the reasons behind them are clear.

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The future of Gordon White Library is still to be decided. While that remains the case, there is an opportunity to have the conversation properly and make sure community is a part of it, while we consider the path forward.

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