The proposed changes will see the Wingham branch cut to four days per week while the central library in Taree would have slightly reduced hours during the week but extended Saturday hours to compensate for closures that day at all other branches.

A full round of community consultation will be carried out before any decision is made to alter the operating hours of libraries in Greater Taree. This will include a public forum in each of the five communities where a council-owned library operates. The city council voted unanimously to take this step at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday night before a packed gallery that included representatives of the libraries affected by the council’s service review proposal. Under that plan, three libraries - Hallidays Point, Harrington and Old Bar - were to have their operating hours cut from five days per week plus Saturday mornings to just three days.

Old Bar was to also have its team of volunteers replaced by professional employees in a move aimed at lifting the library to State standards, creating an opportunity to apply for government grants. Overall the plan aimed to standardise services across the branches and save $35,000 per year, plus the $110,000 that would be needed to bring Old Bar up to standard with fulltime paid staff.

The two speakers who addressed the meeting understood the need for council to minimise expenditure and develop a more sustainable system but believed a better compromise was available, both expressing concern at the lack of community consultation.

Cr Mave Richardson said community consultation was vital as local communities best knew their own needs.

She found it ironic that a proposal to restrict library hours was discussed the same week that National Year of Reading celebrations had taken place locally.

“There is a huge number of illiterate Australians - we should be encouraging library use,” Cr Richardson said.