Cr Kate Wilson argued against a proposed 4% increase in the council's libraries budget for 2009-10 yesterday, instead saying it should be raised by a reduced amount of 1.5% - or $143,000 - to $10 million.
"I have to look at what we are trying to do as a council . . . for me, it's about trying to drive the economy.
"The library is a wonderful resource. It's not an economic driver," she said.
Councillors were divided on the suggestion, with some arguing the libraries budget could afford to be cut, while others defended the libraries' important social role in the city.
The idea was eventually put to the vote and narrowly defeated, 7-8.
The vote followed a report to councillors by council library services manager Bernie Hawke, outlining possible options aimed at saving money if cuts were deemed necessary.
Those options ranged from scrapping the 50c rental fee for some books, to be offset by staffing efficiencies, to raising fees or making "significant" cuts in service, he said.
Possible service cuts - which were not recommended - included closing the Waikouaiti, Port Chalmers or Mosgiel libraries, or discontinuing the book bus service, his report said.
During yesterday's debate, Cr Michael Guest also raised the prospect of deferring the planned South Dunedin library to save money, given the annual cost of running the central library.
However, cuts were opposed by councillors, including Cr Paul Hudson, who said the library was not just about books, but a space for people to meet and socialise.
"More than anything else we do, the library is part of the glue and social fabric of the city," he said.
Cr Fliss Butcher agreed: "When I first moved to this city 15 years ago, that library was the first friend I made."
Cr Bill Acklin blamed the pressure for cuts on councillors' decision on Wednesday to approve $461,000 in additional funding for the city's economic development industry project contestable fund for the next two years.
Cr Teresa Stevenson said councillors were now looking for savings in the "wrong area".
"If you want to save money don't build the rugby stadium," she said.
However, Cr Dave Cull supported finding modest savings from the libraries budget, and Cr Chris Staynes agreed, saying "the library will not be closed as a result".
Cr Richard Walls believed cutting operating hours to a closing time of 6pm on weekdays, and closing the library completely on Sundays, was the better way to achieve savings during its quietest times.
After Cr Wilson's move was defeated, councillors voted in favour of accepting Mr Hawke's report for public consultation prior to the annual plan hearings in May.
