UPDATE: A Sydney council is moving to impose fees on private tutors operating in public libraries, as libraries face overwhelming demand from commercial tutoring services. North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker has backed a resident-led initiative that seeks to implement mandatory bookings and fees for tutors, aiming to alleviate overcrowding and ensure other patrons can use library facilities.
The proposal comes amid a significant surge in the billion-dollar Australian tutoring sector, as more students seek private coaching for academic support. According to Marianne De Souza, chair of the North Sydney Council-run community precinct group advocating for this change, libraries are becoming increasingly congested, particularly after school hours and leading up to the HSC exams.
“It’s become a free-for-all,” De Souza stated. “When you walk into libraries, all the tables and chairs are being taken up by tutoring groups and students, meaning other people wanting to use libraries can’t find a seat or sit down to read books.”
Baker emphasized that the high density of schools in the area plays a significant role in the increased use of libraries for tutoring. With ten public and private schools located within a 500-meter radius of the main library in North Sydney, the demand for space has surged. “We have one main library which is being loved to death,” she remarked.
This proposal is gaining traction as residents express frustration over the lack of seating and quiet spaces for reading and study, a function that libraries are meant to serve. The council’s move could be a pivotal moment for public library usage in North Sydney, reflecting broader trends in education and community resource allocation.
As discussions continue, the council is expected to finalize details regarding potential fees and booking systems in the coming weeks. This urgent matter highlights the growing tension between educational demands and public resource accessibility, an issue that could resonate across Australia as similar challenges arise in other regions.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the North Sydney Council prepares to address the increasing pressures on public libraries.
