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Reading the riot act

1/11/2018

18 Comments

 
PictureBass Coast’s mobile library will be retired by June 30 next year. West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation has invited mobile library users to suggest replacement services and alternative ideas.
​By Joy Button
 
LAST week I learned the Waterline townships in Bass Coast will lose their mobile library service in June 2019.
 
It’s just one more example of the Waterline communities being disadvantaged. Imagine the storm that would erupt in Cowes if their library service was closed, and they were offered a replacement service of a trolley load of books to peruse, and a drop-off and pick-up point with a librarian being contactable by telephone.

The West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation quotes benchmarks that may be relevant in Warragul, where the library service is based, or in other larger regional areas but they aren’t relevant in the Waterline or other smaller townships.
 
The city people may say, big deal … go to the library like we have to. But the mobile library is our weekly community hub. It comes to Coronet Bay, Corinella, San Remo, Kilcunda and Grantville once a week. It stops for one and a half hours in Grantville, two hours in Coronet Bay and lucky San Remo has five hours.
 
Although it’s small, it houses a fair range of books, magazines, videos and CDs for adults and children.  Readers know how fabulous it is to browse through books on a shelf to find something to read. I had to leave school in year 9, so my education has been very limited.  I use the library to read, to learn and for pleasure.  
 
I can remember one Tuesday when our local councillor, Geoff Ellis, who is chairman of the library corporation, came to Coronet Bay to look over the mobile library.  Some of us were having coffee on the foreshore and Geoff came out raving about what a great service it was.  How good the community vibe was and the interaction between the librarian and the people going in and how she knew all their names.  The mobile library is part of our social interaction.  And now it is going to be lost. 
​
The community spirit that exists in the Waterline townships is amazing and is the main reason why most of us live where we live. But it has its challenges, especially for those who don’t have a car to visit the local nurse practitioner, or the local GP, or the pharmacy.  The closest police station is San Remo or Wonthaggi.  A small bus runs infrequently to Grantville to connect with services to Melbourne, Wonthaggi or Phillip Island. 
 
I spent some talking to the CEO of the library corporation last week and heard a lot of spin.  There is the possibility of a “micro-service” in Corinella Community Centre with a “trolley” of books, including a drop-off and pick-up point for books.  They don’t understand that some people don’t have cars and Coronet Bay is 45 minutes’ walk from Corinella. We only have a partial footpath, in the main street and in the new developments.
​
Yes, the library service allows access to choose books online from a wide range of libraries in Victoria, and there is no doubt that this is a fabulous service.  But the ability to browse books is an essential part of being a book reader. 
 
I tried to explain to the CEO that the library service is an essential service, as are schools, transport and health services.  They’re an integral part of physical and mental wellbeing. 
I was asked what I would like. I asked for a guarantee in writing that we would get a comparable service to what we are experiencing with the mobile library.  I was told that was not possible.

The opportunity to have one library building among the Waterline townships is a topic that has never been taken seriously and has been dismissed out of hand.  Mechanics institutes were an essential part of learning in the 1800s and early 1900s. They were replaced by library services to allow people access to learning and to reading books for pleasure.
 
They say everyone at some time reaches a stage when they say “Enough!”  Too often these days we are told to accept increased prices and decreased services.  I have accepted the fact that our rates have increased.  I have accepted the fact that the CEO of Bass Coast Shire Council receives a record salary.  But the news that we are to lose the mobile library service is too much.  I hope other Bass Coast residents will support the Waterline townships and say no, this can’t be allowed to happen.
 
Write to your local councillors.  Write to the Waterline councillors.  Write to the State and Federal politicians.  I think we deserve better and I don’t think this should be allowed to happen, not in our Bass Coast Shire.  Inquiries: saveourmobilelibrary@gmail.com or Save our West Gippsland Mobile Library Facebook  page. 
18 Comments
Margaret Lee
2/11/2018 09:03:13 am

I agree wholehaertedlynwith Joy Button that not replacing the Mobile Library that has served me well for the past 20 years is a great blow! Cost CUTTING??
Small waterline communities like ours her in Grantville( I am at The Gurdies and need to drive to Grantville as well) to get to the Mobile Library. If it goes it would be a 1/2 hour drive any way to San Remo, Wonthaggi or Korumburra. That is not FAIR!! A trolley would never replace the community spirit and meeting point for we locals who love our library

Reply
ant link
2/11/2018 10:42:53 am

Margaret, they will also be removing the San Remo mobile library stop as well :(

Reply
Pete Granger
2/11/2018 04:04:05 pm

This is an extreme economic-rationalist decision. Pretending to consult with stakeholders before making their decision, but doing no such thing. Pretending they would provide 'new and better', which is laughable. Ignoring far greater 'inefficiencies' in other parts of the library network. They have chosen instead to attack the least populated, the most remote, the most disadvantaged towns to find 'efficiencies'. The ones least able to defend themselves. It is a most shameful decision that is in contradiction to the 'connectedness' between major towns and smaller towns that more progressive individuals and governments are nowadays pursuing. The library board meets this morning at Cowes Library for those who are interested attending.

Reply
Veronica Dowman
2/11/2018 11:27:07 am

Well argued Joy. This is a matter of equity. Small townships should not miss out and the options listed to replace the Mobile Library are totally inadequate designed for second class citizens.

Reply
Robert Kenyon link
2/11/2018 12:38:21 pm

It would be a pity if the mobile library is shut down. There clearly is a great need to provide library services in these (slightly) remote towns.
I wonder if there is a role for the Community Houses that exist in some of these places. Perhaps the Houses could act as pick-up and drop-off points for books ordered online. The libraries already have a delivery and collection service for books ordered remotely, so maybe this could be used. If not, a local service could be established by the Council.
I know this would be a poorer substitute for the existing service, but it might be better than nothing.

Reply
Joy Button
2/11/2018 02:45:44 pm

I respect your comments Robert but the mobile library service is more than a drop off and collection service, it is an outreach service. It gives the people the opportunity to browse books, magazines, newspapers, cd's and dvd's and to access internet services. It can be the only place a resident has to speak to people for not only the day but the entire week …. it is a mobile community hub. In Coronet Bay we do not have a community house or community centre. This is why we need to retain the mobile library service right across the Waterline. The Library Service needs to start working on grants from Commonwealth and State Governments to access funding. It is the basic right for all of us to have access to library services. It is a community service and Governments and Councils are responsible for doing this.

Reply
Dianne Goeman
2/11/2018 06:59:24 pm

Absolutely agree with these sentiments Joy. It is a basic right for ALL community members to have access to library services - 'library's change lives'

Sunny
2/11/2018 02:38:33 pm

My son and I have been using the mobile library at San Remo for 15 years, without it he would never have learned to love books so much and we used to use the computer on a regular basis before we got internet at home. It will be sad when they stop this, it is more than just a library it is a meeting place, it is stationed outside the primary school and many children are inspired to browse, read and pick up books. The one thing is, there are many new residents who do not even know of it's existence. If they advertised it better, with a sign on the main road when it is there, maybe it would be used more. Ordering online is not for everyone and I feel sorry for the elderly people who frequent the mobile library too. They use the excuse that the truck is getting old but recently spent thousands on upgrading it, go figure.

Reply
Ant
2/11/2018 04:59:45 pm

Great point Sunny - we need more people in the San Remo area to speak out - please join our FB campaign page. We all have different needs and reasons for wanting to keep our current mobile library and it is great to hear from parents with kids

Reply
Sunny
2/11/2018 05:07:04 pm

Thanks, sorry I don't do facebook.

ant
3/11/2018 09:16:48 pm

thanks Sunny - i hope these will help in getting your message across :)
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THIS FABULOUS SERVICE EMAIL OR WRITE LETTERS TO:
1. GEOFF ELLIS - OUR OWN WATERLINE COUNCILLOR WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARY SERVICES BOARD.
EMAIL: geoff.ellis@basscoast.vic.gov.au.
MAIL ADDRESS: BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 118, WONTHAGGI, 3995

2. CLARE LE SERVE - WATERLINE COUNCILLOR.
EMAIL: clare.leserve@basscoast.vic.gov.au
MAIL ADDRESS: BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 118, WONTHAGGI, 3995.

3. BRUCE KENT - WATERLINE COUNCILLOR.
EMAIL: bruce.kent@basscoast.vic.gov.au
MAIL ADDRESS: BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 118, WONTHAGGI, 3995.

4. PAMELA ROTHFIELD - MAYOR OF BASS COAST SHIRE.
EMAIL: pamela.rothfield@basscoast.vic.gov.au
MAIL ADDRESS: BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 118, WONTHAGGI, 3995.

5. LES LARKE - MEMBER OF THE WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARY SERVICES BOARD.
EMAIL: les.larke@basscoast.vic.gov.au
MAIL ADDRESS: BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 118, WONTHAGGI, 3995.

6. LEANNE WILLIAMS - CEO OF WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARY SERVICES.
EMAIL: Leanne.williams@wgrlc.vic.gov.au
MAIL ADDRESS: 65 VICTORIA STREET, WARRAGUL, 3820.

Reply
Ant
2/11/2018 05:07:52 pm

Joy, we share the same passion on this issue. You were able to put all you thoughts together beautifully - none of those silly stats that they throw at us and we have had to dig and throw stats back at them back. You have spoken from the heart - this is a social justice issue, not only for the elderly, but for those who are isolated, those who do not have access to car, those who have incorporated the mobile library as part of their lively hood and routine and for those who just love having that sense of community. Thank you for battling this cause on behalf of those who use the service who are still none the wiser (yes i met another lady yesterday who knew nothing about the closure) and the community.

Reply
Linda Cuttriss
3/11/2018 10:52:03 am

I agree that this is an equity and social justice issue. To take away the mobile library from those who need it lessens us all. I always get a good feeling when I see the big colourful truck on Kilcunda hill bringing books to people. But Joy explains it’s more than a library, it’s a weekly community hub for people who are relatively isolated. The West Gippsland Library mobile library services 9 sites in Baw Baw Shire, 6 in South Gippsland Shire as well as 5 in Bass Coast. A lot of relatively isolated people will be affected by this. Can we convince our local councillors and State and Federal politicians that mobile libraries are community services (for health and well-being in relatively isolated communities) as well as community facilities (libraries) and should be funded accordingly. I have just sent an email to our Bass Coast Councillors. Joy, which State and Federal politicians do you suggest we write to?

Reply
Joy Button
3/11/2018 08:23:56 pm

Thank you Linda and thoroughly endorse your comments regarding the closure of such a great service. I think a good starting point at the present would be Daniel Andrews, Brian Paynter including the various candidates for the Victorian election and Geoff Hunt would be great starting points.

Reply
Sunny
3/11/2018 08:31:28 pm

How do I find all their email addresses? I am happy to write to them too.

Joy Button
3/11/2018 09:17:37 pm

Sunny, I hope these details help but I do not know all of the candidates and their details for the seat of Bass.
Geoff Ellis, Waterline Councillor and Chairman of West Gippsland Library Services: geoff.ellis@basscoast.vic.gov.au.
Leanne Williams, CEO, West Gippsland Library Services: Leanne Williams:
leannew@wgrlc.vic.gov.au
Daniel Andrews: daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
Brian Paynter: brian.paynter@Parliament.vic.gov.au
Greg Hunt: Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au’
Jordan Crugnalle: Jordan.Crugnale@vic.alp.org.au
Clare Le Serve: clare.leserve@gmail.com
Pamela Rothfield, Mayor, Bass Coast Council: pamela.rothfield@basscoast.vic.gov.au

Reply
Barrie Stewart
4/11/2018 03:35:18 pm

Joy, I don't think I can add much more to what have outlined so far, but I do remember that several years ago the mobile library used to visit Kernot to allow those residents of Krowera, Woodleigh, St Hellier and Kernot to enjoy the same things that are now going to taken away from your communities. In the Kernot case we were only advised by the librarian the week before that there would only be one more visit. No consultation, it just happened sadly. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that through the contributions we make via our rates this service was resident owned, so why aren't they being asked what they would like as a service. The questionnaire the library service posted out, I assume to all those that use the service, is so poorly thought out, they give no opportunity than to tick an option that the Library service is prepared provide that meets residents preferred choices. The Library Service and the councillors on it have known for 20 years that this day was coming when the vehicle would need replacing, no thought or consideration was given to it, they just went on blindly thinking what a great job they were doing. The Library Service has know this has been coming for some time now, but have left it to the last minute to let us know, and it will be a fait acompli.

Reply
Joy Button
4/11/2018 07:53:57 pm

Barrie, I do agree with your sentiment. The last couple of years I have been hearing about consultation from our council and yet, the decision to do this, has been done without any consultation with the community. Our Council and the Board say that they are consulting with regard to the replacement services that will be given, but I am not convinced and not a believer on that one. It now seems that it costs $250,000.00 in rent for the Wonthaggi Library p.a. and $40,000.00 p.a. to garage the mobile van. Feeling let down and disillusioned, Barrie.




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