To the Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Council,

We, the undersigned residents of Brisbane, call on Brisbane City Council to properly invest in its library workforce and commit to meeting the State Library of Queensland staffing guidelines that Council has already agreed to uphold.

Brisbane's libraries are among our city's most valued public services. They are places for learning, digital access, children's literacy programs, community connection, lifelong education, and support for people of all ages and backgrounds. But these essential services depend on having enough skilled library staff to deliver them.

Council's own figures paint a concerning picture:

• Since 2021, Brisbane City Council library staffing has declined by 21%.
• In the 2024-25 financial year, Brisbane's libraries were staffed at only 58% of the minimum staffing standard.
• Comparable councils are performing significantly better, with Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, and Ipswich all exceeding 80% of the minimum standard and Logan meeting 100%.
• Staffing ratios declined further in the 2025-26 financial year, with recruitment failing to keep pace with employee departures.
• Brisbane's library staffing rates are now at their lowest level since 2010.
   
  This failure to adequately staff our libraries strikes at the heart of our community.

Anyone who visits their local library understands just how important these services are. Library staff help children develop a love of reading, assist residents to access technology and government services, support students and jobseekers, and create welcoming community spaces for everyone.

When staffing levels fall, the quality and accessibility of these services are put at risk. Workers face increasing pressure, workloads grow, and the community receives less of the service it expects and deserves.

Library workers deserve the support of their Council through adequate staffing levels so they can meet community expectations, provide quality services, and come to work each day without being forced to cut corners or work under unnecessary pressure.

Brisbane can and should do better.

We therefore call on Brisbane City Council to:

• Commit to meeting the State Library of Queensland minimum staffing guidelines.
• Develop and publish a plan to restore staffing levels across Brisbane's libraries.
• Invest in the recruitment and retention of library staff to ensure workforce numbers keep pace with community growth and service demand.

Our libraries are an investment in Brisbane's future. The Lord Mayor must step up and invest in our workforce.

Sign the petition and help us Lift Local Libraries.