Cash squeeze puts libraries at risk, says Darwin Mayor

Public libraries will be under threat if the Northern Territory Government does not increase its funding, Darwin's Lord Mayor has warned.
Graeme Sawyer said the Government's funding had been a fixed amount for about 16 years, stating "(this) means it's now a fraction of its former self in terms of value in today's dollars."
Mayor Sawyer warned that, unless funding was tied to inflation, the council would face hard decisions - such as a user-pays system, closing some libraries, or increasing rates.
The Government contributes $3.5 million a year to NT libraries.
Arts Minister Gerry McCarthy backed away last year from his own department's suggestion to slash public library funding in major NT centres to help establish libraries in Territory growth towns.
In an email statement last week, Minister McCarthy said the Government was working closely with councils across the NT to sign off on funding agreements for libraries from July this year.
"We are committed to improving library services across the Territory," Minister McCarthy stated.