Budget for libraries

Gosford Council has budgeted to spend almost $200,000 over the next three years on library services in the Peninsula area.

This financial year Council will spend $100,000 on various library services throughout the city including $8000 on barcode readers, $60,000 on book security systems and $42,000 on new software.

In next year's financial year Council has budgeted $115,000 across the city including $72,000 for book automated returns and $43,000 towards the refurbishment of Woy Woy Library

In the 2002/03 financial year, Council has budgeted for a "self checkout" at Umina (up to $21,000) and a web-based catalogue for all libraries ($15,000).

Carl Spears, September 15.