Councillor Kellie Marsh  hosted the rally in response to Shellharbour City Council proposals to relocate the Shellharbour Village Library to Shell Cove. 

A council spokesperson said there was a current strategy in place that explored the concept of moving the library to The Waterfront, Shell Cove development in 2018, however plans were only conceptual at this point and any changes would involve further community consultation. 

Shellharbour resident Patricia Wickham said her main concern was accessibility and cost if the service was to be removed from the area.

“The library is used by a lot of the aged who live in the village, and most of them don’t drive,” Ms Wickham said.

“It worries me that we would have to rely on public transport. 

‘‘It is an extra cost and also not easy using buses with walkers or other things some of us rely on to get around.

“It would be shame to see it go because it’s a real asset to this community and for the older people it is a way we can all keep our minds active.”

A council spokesperson said that if the library was to be relocated, current village library users would still have access to the service with expansions to the library’s home service. 

The library is managed under a Libraries and Museums strategy 2024, which was adopted by council in March.

Kiama Independent/ Lake Times