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There are fewer people working in Brisbane libraries than there were five years ago, despite booming population growth, prompting heated debate about the quality of services being offered and the impact on employees.
Staffing levels at the Brisbane City Council facilities have fallen by about 20 per cent since 2021. During that time, tens of thousands of people have moved to the city.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says his administration is working to turn the tide, completing multiple hiring rounds over the past 12 months and seeking to recruit a further 15 new librarians before the end of the year.
The Services Union – which represents more than half of all library workers – says that is not enough.
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Its internal surveys are said to show 92 per cent of staff believe their workload is overwhelming or unsustainable, and 88 per cent have noticed a decline in service quality due to shortages.
“They’re telling us there are not enough people to do the job that they need to do to deliver the library services that people expect,” secretary Neil Henderson said outside Brisbane Square on Wednesday.
The union provided accounts from anonymous members who reported low morale, low trust in management, abuse from members of the public, and chronic staff shortages.
“I know a lot of staff are burnt out – physically tired and mentally fried – with everything we deal with in our day-to-day work,” one said.
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The Labor opposition backed the union’s push, and said the lord mayor was failing both employees and residents.
“This is a recipe for disaster,” leader Jared Cassidy told reporters.
“It’s not just a problem for our staff … it’s also bad for the people of Brisbane as well, because they are seeing services wound back.”
It has historically been difficult for reporters to speak directly to council workers about their personal experiences as many are concerned about how their employment could be affected.
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When pressed in the council chamber on Tuesday, Schrinner strongly defended his administration’s record on libraries.
He said the council was working to recruit staff where they were needed, but had done extensive work to support libraries, and he pointed to a broad range of programs offered across the city.
“We are determined to make sure that our libraries not only are the best libraries in Queensland, but that they get even better,” Schrinner told the chamber.
“Our plan for libraries is to invest more … and to make sure that we respond to the changing demands of the community.
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“They are absolutely our plans to make sure we invest in libraries and make sure that libraries are appropriately staffed, and that process will deliver better outcomes for the people of Brisbane.”
Schrinner added that the council’s own survey of about 250 library staff showed 82 per cent believed they were treated with respect at work, 77 per cent said they would recommend council services to people they know, and a majority said they could manage their responsibilities appropriately.
The union said Brisbane’s staff-to-population ratio was well below surrounding local government areas.
Schrinner accused it of running a campaign for political gain.
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William Davis is a reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via email.AdvertisementAdvertisement