AT the April 26 Ordinary Meeting of Council, it was stated that council endorses the concept of the move of the North Arm Cove Library to the North Arm Cove Community Centre, pending suitability.
Secretary of the North Arm Cove Community Centre Management Committee, Maureen Kelly, is in favour of the proposed move.
"The North Arm Cove Community Centre Management Committee supports the move 100 per cent, as we believe it will be a much better location with better facilities," said Ms Kelly.
Library Coordinator of the North Arm Cove Library Service, Elizabeth Hillman, agrees that the move is a great idea.
"A lot of hard work has gone in to get to the point that we're at.
"It will be a great move in a positive direction," said Ms Hillman.
Ms Kelly stated that as there was no free land in North Arm Cove the dedicated land associated with the Community Centre would be the ideal location for a library. This would also concentrate council services in one location.
"The vision is to build a 50 square metre extension on the hall," she said.
Great Lakes Council's Manager of Library Services, Chris Jones, stated that he would support that extension and agreed that 50 square metres was the level of floor space required for a quality library service.
Ms Hillman said the extension would be purpose built to house the collection with safety and security.
"It will be a vision for the future," she said.
At the community meeting last Monday it was agreed that relocating the service should be avoided until the purpose built facility is completed.
"Although I appreciate the offer of temporary facilities from the Community Centre Management Committee, I am not keen on moving to the temporary facilities currently available due to concerns of access to the collection, OH&S issues and the quality of the service that could be offered," said Mr Jones.
The Library Committee consists of four councillors and they have stated that they wish to keep the service, which Ms Kelly believes is a good idea.
"If it was handed over to the community we would have no access to new books, we couldn't access the 60,000 books at Forster or any of the State Libraries," she explained.
Ms Kelly said the North Arm Cove Community Centre Management Committee have drawn up some preliminary plans.
Mr Jones explained that the plans need to be reviewed as a result of the meeting last Monday.
"The plans are currently being redrafted to allow for greater provision of library floor space," he said.
Ms Hillman said that she was pleased that there was a strong agreement from everyone present at Monday's meeting to move the library to the Community Hall.
Ms Kelly said she believes they have 100 per cent support from the community to keep the library service.
"This is a self help community and we have a wonderful Community Centre. The addition of the library would simply enhance it," she added.
Mr Jones said that from the Library Committee's perspective, it's important that this support translates into usage of the library.
"I have been encouraging people from North Arm Cove to continue borrowing books from our library," assured Ms Kelly.
The next step is to find the money for the proposed move.
"We will be looking at Section 94 for funding and focusing on getting plans in for the DA," said Ms Kelly.
Mr Jones said that as far as he knows, there is no Section 94 for North Arm Cove.
"Whilst Sec 94 is an option, at the moment I'm not aware of any plan being in place.
"A more immediate means of generating funds will be to look into available government grants," he said.
"However, in saying that, I would support any mechanisms that attracted external funding towards the library," he added.
In regards to Sec 94, Mr Jones said that council is assessing potential development in the area and how that might benefit the enhancement of the library service.
Ms Kelly explained that on August 5 there is an Area Assistance Scheme opening and that the North Arm Cove Community Centre Management Committee will also be looking at that as an option for funding.
"Council have explained that they don't have any money to give us, however they will sponsor the committee when we go for the grants," said Ms Kelly.
Ms Hillman believes the grants need to be applied for ASAP so that the project can get up and running.
"We will go through S355 Hall Management Committee.
"We will be applying for funding through grants and fundraising activities.
"The council has recommended that there be a place for the Library Coordinator on that Hall Committee," she said.
The North Arm Cove Community Centre Management Committee consists of seven hardworking, local members, and the first committee meeting was held in July 1996.
It is a Section 355 Committee of Great Lakes Council and Maureen Kelly is the only member that has been involved in the committee from the very beginning.
Mr Jones said the overall costs of the proposal have not yet been identified.
"The first step towards clarifying those costs is for the modified plans to be drafted so that estimated costs can be determined," he said.
"That plan is central to the grant application process.
"I would expect that the drafting of the proposed plans would move as rapidly as possible.
"I think everybody's happy to move quickly on this proposed move," he added.
Ms Hillman said getting the funding is very important and believes a full consultative approach is the best way to go.
"It is vital that we are successful," she said.
Mr Jones stated that he was impressed with the way the community has got behind the library.
"I would like to express my thanks to all North Arm Cove residents for all their efforts towards the library service," said Mr Jones.
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