Mobile library to go, but not yet

22/3/2019

By Catherine Watson

COUNCILLORS this week confirmed their decision to end Bass Coast’s mobile library service but have undertaken to keep it going until alternatives are in place.

The decision to end the mobile service has been bitterly contested in the Waterline communities of Coronet Bay and Corinella, with a group called Save Our Mobile Library saying they were not consulted beforehand.

About 30 members of the group and supporters were in the public gallery on Wednesday as councillors considered their petition to retain the service.

In contrast to other meetings on the issue, they remained quiet and attentive during the discussion. The biggest cheers came in response to Cr Julian Brown’s suggestion that it was time for a permanent library in the Waterline communities.

Councillors voted unanimously in support of a motion confirming the decision by the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation (WGRLC) to end the service.

But they committed to retaining the mobile library service until an alternative service is operational.

Several models of delivering services are under consideration, including a proposal to set up a community library in the Corinella and District Community Centre.

WGRLC, which is contracted by the council to provide library services in Bass Coast, had estimated it would cost up to $1 million to replace the current ageing mobile library. With South Gippsland Shire pulling out of the service, the entire cost of replacement and operation would have to be borne by local ratepayers.

A WGRLC report stated that there were 252 active users of the service in Bass Coast and a large percentage of those used other libraries as well.

Geoff Ellis (chair of WGRLC)
“We won’t abandon the people of the Waterline. We won’t retire the truck until the new service is in place.
“I look forward to working with our passionate people to introduce service options that will benefit the whole community. We’re committed as a library corporation to listen to community feedback as we tweak the new service.”

Cr Le Serve
“It’s been a very stressful time and conflicted time in the Waterline communities. There have been many conflicting views about the stats and the cost of replacing the vehicle, the community consultation, the survey and what we’re going to get next.
“We have been given an assurance that the Waterline area will have an enhanced library service. How that’s to be delivered we’re yet to know.
“The recommendation states that the mobile library will not be taken out of those affected communities until an enhanced service begins. That’s really important. We won’t accept a lesser service.

Cr Michael Whelan
“I support the library corporation. It’s a very proficient outfit. The figures don’t stack up for the retention of the mobile library. I see no reason to change the original decision.”

Pamela Rothfield
“The South Coast mobile library service was launched in 2006, 13 years ago. At that time there was no fast internet. Internet connection was something like 16 per cent. You have to move with the times. We’re in a different space. I absolutely have confidence in the library decision.”

Cr Julian Brown
“The current truck is near the end of its life. I think the cost of providing a new truck of the same size to the number of customers it services is not practical.
“Having said that, I think it would be nice to see something like a library in the Waterline area, whether it be in Grantville, Corinella or Coronet Bay.”
“We do have an ageing demographic who often struggle with technology and who value hard copy books. A community library does allow opportunities for significant social interaction.
“I look forward to library corporation continuing to work with the community to work out what the model is going to be and where it’s going to be

Stephen Fullarton
“I will only support the end of the mobile service is if there’s an adequate replacement.”

Les Larke
“I’ve got no doubt the community values the library truck. It’s a matter of whether we move on from that and get the best model in place to service all people in that large and dispersed area.
“I support moving forward, having perhaps a much more modern service. I’m not sure how that looks at the moment. I implore the community to get on board and make this the best possible service across the Waterline and other areas.”

11 Comments

John Gascoigne

22/3/2019 12:25:07 pm

Having read the story and its quotations, I'm confident there will be a library for the Waterline areas. Not necessarily IN those areas. What about a council-provided minibus service making weekly or twice-weekly trips from small-community centres to a permanent library. Whatever eventuates, the underlying, adhering principle must be that libraries are an essential service.

david WOMBAT lyons

1/4/2019 07:53:27 am

agree, "Whatever eventuates, the underlying, adhering principle must be that libraries are an essential service." and also shows that the community of the Bass Coast is passionate about it Library service and the council hopefully sees that the Libraries are one of there most loved services.

Sunny

22/3/2019 03:54:23 pm

And what about San Remo?? A high number of users are elderly and the kids who pop in after school are often not recorded as a users. The elderly often do not use the internet. Having to travel 40 minute round trip to either Cowes or Wonthaggi is going to be costly. Will the council consider a free bus service for those who cannot travel by car or those who cannot afford the petrol costs? Also I have often heard new residents say they never knew about the mobile library, because when do they advertise it? More consultation should have been in place to see if it would get used more from new residents not just the existing users.

Joy Button

22/3/2019 08:50:43 pm

As I relied on transport by a friend for the Council meeting on Wednesday, I found myself in Wonthaggi with two hours to spare. I decided to go to the Wonthaggi library to pass the time. As I have lived in Coronet Bay as a permanent resident for 12 years, I must say, and say with no malice intended, that I had forgotten what it was like to spend time in a public library. There were people in the library in their thirties reading newspapers, working on laptops and possibly studying. Senior citizens and younger people accessing the computers. As school ended there was an influx of school aged children who popped into the library chatting and gathering and also accessing the computers and games. In this time more people had entered the library to read or to browse the books. There was an occasion previously where I saw a young mother who I know, being taught chess by her young son. There were four librarians in attendance who also participated in varying conversations that were being held. There was also an elderly couple in the library and it was clearly obvious that the husband had dementia. His wife was reading the Phillip Island Advertiser to him and from overhead conversations it was clear that this couple lived in Wonthaggi, and visited the library two to three times per week. Sometime their treat was a taxi ride home but on Wednesday they were walking home. There were no massive borrowings going out the library in comparison to the supposedly low rate suggested by Councillors with the mobile library. My two hours in the library flew by and made me realise even more that the service that we have with the mobile library cannot be compared with a small room, some have called it a broom closet, which is being talked about at Corinella Community Centre. The challenges ahead for the Council and West Gippsland Library Corporation is to return goodwill to the Waterline residents and to recognise their need for a library service that residents in Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Cowes have the opportunity to enjoy five to six days per week. To actually involve the users in the Waterline would be a marvellous thing. In the time I spent in the library I felt in a safe and community environment and my two hours went far too quickly before I had to leave the library to hear the disturbing news that the mobile library had been lost.

Sunny

22/3/2019 09:17:54 pm

What a lovely comment Joy, thank you for sharing how important libraries are and pointing out that statistics do not always tell the real stories. My son who is now a teenager remembers fondly of our time going to the mobile library and especially those years we did not have a car, it was something he treasured and was an early reader and still reads every day, yes from books not devices!

Sandra Thorley

4/4/2019 10:50:34 pm

Great observations Joy of just how the community use and enjoy a library service and why should the Waterline and other small communities be denied the service they deserve as well.
In this case it is NOT JUST about the money. It is dealing with people’s quality and enjoyment of life.

Sandra Thorley

4/4/2019 10:40:12 pm

I totally agree with your comments and observations Sunny. Once again we are shown the lack of consultation by council and discrimination of the elderly and those without computers.

Joy Button

22/3/2019 09:57:25 pm

Totally agree with your comments Sunny ….. the benefits, usage and value of a library service cannot be measured in throughput of books or by dollars. This is what we deal with when we have an accountant in a bureaucratic role rather than a curator or custodian in a professional library role.

Janne Morrison

23/3/2019 10:34:39 pm

$$ signs and statistics can never portray the true value the Mobile Library has brought to The Waterline communities. A very disappointing indication that our Councillors have been swayed by such shallow figures when they should have been looking at the overall value the Mobile Library has brought to these townships over so many years.

Veronica Dowman

24/3/2019 11:21:25 am

Thank you to the 2, 453 people, most of whom live in the Waterline, who signed the petition to retain a mobile library service. Thank you to the Pioneer Bay, Grantville, Tenby Point and Coronet Bay ratepayers, residents, progress and business associations for writing letters of support to all the Councillors. Unfortunately, none of you got a mention at the Council table. Thank you to the many local businesses who also supported the retention of a mobile library service.

I’m sorry that 40% the Waterline community who cannot or do not have access to the internet, were ignored when being told their mobile library service was out of date.

I’m dismayed that not one Councillor was able to explain how “the” replacement service would be superior or even what “the” replacement service would involve.

I was disheartened to hear Councillors refer to flawed statistics and support vague concepts as acceptable.

I’m sorry that this whole issue was dealt with in secrecy and that the Councillors did not trust their community enough to talk to them first, before making such a monumental decision.

There is a profound sense of injustice permeating the Waterline towns at the moment.

Sharz

3/4/2019 06:58:50 pm

Very sad day indeed. Our councillors are not in touch with the unique needs of communities in the waterline area. Growth has been incredible over the last 5 years yet infrastructure remains minimal to say the least. Services, especially in the isolated towns of Corinella & Coronet Bay are not even bare minimal with 100s of homes being built across both towns. Had there had been reputable community consultation from the get go and a commitment from the library, usage in these communities could have been increased. Poorly advertised service, no alternative times trialled and removal of the truck’s visit to the local school some time back was a destiny towards failure. Had the community been involved in a meaningful way I am sure half the funds at least could have easily been raised to replace the mobile library and extend visit times.
Maybe we should seek to be adopted into Casey or Sth Gippsland shires. The only way this can move forward is to have the people designing the new service along with a plan for the CDCC be supported with their weathered and outdated facility?

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Mobile library to go, but not yet

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