I don't know what the library funding situation is in real-world Banana Republics, but it sure is thin on the ground over here in this part of the world. Particularly school libraries. Our wonderful public libraries seem to be provisioned by very proficient bean-counters, or possibly very dedicated and scary Friends of the Library folk.
Media coverage of what appears to be completely unrelated events does help shine a feeble light on the matter though.
On November 29, the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald announces Federal budget cuts, complete with a table of figures to lend it that patina of gravitas. Then on December 1, we learn from Page 1 of the Sydney Telegraph th
at our politicians have been given a huge pay rise - by an independent tribunal, of course. So the Australian prime minister will earn more than the American president. Of course, the purists will say that these are federal matters, and school funding is a state one. To which the answer is of course 'pffft', particularly given the official Government Response to School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in the 21st Century Enquiry.
Yep, things are grim. Nope, you ain't gettin' any money to fix it.
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