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New chapter for Grantville

20/7/2019

29 Comments

 
Picture
A new Waterline library in Grantville is a vote of confidence in the area, writes Cr Geoff Ellis.

By Cr Geoff Ellis
 
MORE than 600 new books are sitting in boxes in Warragul. They belong to Bass Coast’s future Waterline library. They are in storage alongside self-checkout equipment and shelving. Computers are ready to be deployed. We can order more shelving, desks and reading chairs as required. 
 
Last month the board of the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation voted to locate that new library in the Grantville Transaction Centre.
 
Grantville makes sense as a central hub. People from across the Waterline towns go to Grantville for the chemist, the post office, the medical centre, the cafes, the petrol station and council office. It’s our regional centre. Although the total Waterline population exceeds the population of Inverloch, library usage numbers on our side of the shire are much lower.
 
We have extensively surveyed the Waterline and the community has told us that we should rent one of the empty shops in Grantville for a library. However, our investigation revealed there are no suitable premises currently available for lease in Grantville.
 
Our ultimate goal is to open a standalone facility that reflects the expectations of the community. In the interim, as we wait for something suitable to become available we have turned our attention to the Grantville Transaction Centre. This will allow us to make library services available for many more hours per week in a convenient location.
 
This building, which is owned by the council, currently accommodates a nurse practitioner, two Bass Coast customer service staff and an unstaffed Centrelink kiosk. They will all remain in the centre.
 
The Waterline Library will be open for 37.5 hours a week. A librarian will be on duty for six hours per week and self checkout facilities are available the rest of the time. In consultation with the community, we’re also investigating options for borrowers to collect or return borrowed items in other Waterline towns.
 
I value feedback and interest from the community around this.
 
We still need to hone our library out-reach programs and further services across the Waterline communities. Cr Le Serve is championing their input and advice and we are collating the results of our community survey to inform decisions and negotiations.
 
I wear a few hats in these discussions, representing the people of Western Port as a ward councillor, while I represent our shire and community as a library board member. As chairperson of the board I work with the CEO to achieve the library corporation’s long-term financial plan while providing relevant services to people in the Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Baw Baw shires.
 
That means making sure as many people as possible can use our services, regardless of their location or level of income.
  
I’m glad to be able to say that, in June, we voted to drop fines for overdue books and collection items. Our trial of Fine Free February showed that fines overwhelmingly penalise those who can least afford the penalty and deter them from using our libraries.
 
Putting a library in Grantville is a vote of confidence in the area and could lend weight to the Grantville Needs a Supermarket campaign. It also recognises the future growth of the area. One day, perhaps, we will see a library in one of the shopfronts adjacent to the future supermarket.
 
Geoff Ellis is a councillor for the Waterline ward. 
29 Comments
Joy Button
21/7/2019 09:42:59 am

Councillor Ellis I am disappointed that you have chosen to announce the Waterline library in the Bass Coast Post. The lack of consultation, communication and transparency since the announcement on 23rd October 2018 to close the mobile library service has been deplorable. You write about surveys which have been inadequate and designed not to allow input. You state you value feedback but you and your Councillors and the Chief Executive Officer will not even acknowledge or reply to emails from the community.
Now this announcement has been made without, I understand, a vote from Bass Coast Council.
The Waterline townships represent 80% of the population of Inverloch. We were promised by you and your Councillors an ''enhanced library service''.
A library in the computer room which is approximately 13 square metres is not an enhanced service.
Why not house the mobile library at the rear of the Grantville Transaction Centre or if this cannot be done, retain the mobile library until you can give us the permanent library that we, the Waterline townships, deserve.
The Waterline towns deserve better than such an inadequate service you are proposing.
It is an absolute insult Councillor Ellis.
You do not need a crystal ball to predict that this service will not be utilised as it is totally inadequate and the next step will be for you to close the service as it will not be embraced by the community and we will be left with no library service at all.
I cannot endorse your proposal.

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 07:30:06 pm

Hi Joy,

This article is intended as an update, not an 'announcement' and, as I said at the Coronet Bay RRA meeting yesterday we are looking at using much more of the GTC than just the computer room. Also, we are keeping the truck going in the interim. Good to have your feedback though, thank you!

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Albie
21/7/2019 12:20:05 pm

I think this is a great compromise which results in more days and hours available for library users to access the library services!

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Cr Geoff Ellis.
21/7/2019 12:47:54 pm

We 'announced' this decision at a public board meeting in June. We are doing what we said we - keep the mobile running till we get replacement facilities up and running. The mobile has been superseded in South Gippsland and I look forward to getting feedback from users of those small libraries.

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Levinus
21/7/2019 04:19:44 pm

600 books in 13 square metres is far from the enhanced service that the CEO of The WGLS and you and the Bass Coast Shire council promised us we would get.what you are selling us is a inferior service.i was at the council meeting when you and the rest of the councillors voted and gave your reasons for voting against keeping the Mobile Library Truck. Just curious when this falls over Will you as chairman of the board ask for The CEO’s resignation

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 07:35:01 pm

Hi Lev,

Good to hear from you again. Not sure if you heard everything I said in relation to the Library yesterday at the Coronet Bay RRA meeting but I did mention that we are looking at a much bigger space in the GTC than that computer room and we will keep the mobile going until we have facilities in place. I also need to re-assure everyone that the Nurse Practitioner council officers will remain. Thanks for your feedback.

Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 08:19:36 pm

Hi again - sorry to have a second go at this and in relation to this falling over - not sure how this can fall over if I keep my word to keep the truck running till we have the replacement service in place? As Chairperson of the board I have quite a few obligations under the local government act.

Paula Clarke
21/7/2019 01:04:02 pm

It's a terrible decision that you and the other councillors have made....to take away our library truck and replace it with a cupboard at grantville ?? You have NOT listened to what we want and we will remember that next year at election

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 01:50:27 pm

Thanks Paula.

Your honest feedback is much appreciated I realise that many people would prefer to retain the truck. We are working toward a satisfactory replacement service in accessible buildings and the truck will keep running until we achieve that.

Happy to receive more feedback via my council email.

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Levinus
21/7/2019 05:33:28 pm

Hi Geoff just putting it out there that when people have given feedback in the past on the WGLS Facebook page we have been blocked from future commenting which to me is a type of bullying.And still waiting for a response from a email that both you Leanne and Shaun must of received on 3 separate occasions

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 07:46:08 pm

Hi Lev,

yeah, there have been some long and complicated email trails and discussions about the difference between diligent administration of social media guidelines and peoples perception of what is acceptable is acceptable to post.

I'll check and see if there is anything that we haven't responded to - sorry if we haven't.

Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 07:38:23 pm

Sorry to have a second go at your comment and I encourage everyone to scrutinize and consider all the actions of their councillors and before they allocate numbers on the ballot paper in 2020.

Reply
Joy Button
21/7/2019 02:02:30 pm

I was at the June Board meeting and only the venue, namely, the Grantville Transaction Centre, was announced as the site for the Waterline Library. Not once, was it announced that the computer room, which is approximately 13 sq. metres was the room for the Library. I understood that this decision was to be ratified by Bass Coast Council and this has not happened to date.
My greatest wish is that the rest of Bass Coast Shire stand behind the Waterline residents and back them by stating that they deserve better than a 13 sq. metre room. This was not the enhanced service that Councillors promised when they decided to close the mobile library service.
It is unjust to ask the Waterline communities to be grateful for what we are being given. It is clear that once this service is lost, it will be almost impossible to claw back and get another service.
Bass Coast residents ........ let the Councillors and Council know that this is just not okay!

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Cr Geoff Ellis.
21/7/2019 02:35:58 pm

There were two board meetings in June.

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Joy Button
21/7/2019 04:05:11 pm

A Special Board meeting of West Gippsland Libraries was held on 14th June regarding submissions on the Budget and Library Plan and an ordinary meeting was held on 28th June. It was at the meeting on 14th June that you, Geoff, announced that the Waterline Library would be at Grantville Transaction Centre but did not announce that it would be in the Computer room.

Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 02:40:33 pm

As I said in the article we are looking at re-arranging the GTC interior so it will be much more than just the computer room.

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Joy Button
21/7/2019 07:44:47 pm

Again, even in an announcement, not all details are disclosed Councillor Ellis. Sadly, that has been the pattern since the closure was announced on 23rd October, 2018, We are worthy of transparency, consultation and communication and a fair go when a library service is removed.

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 07:52:29 pm

Hi Joy,

I just got home and checking to see if I have missed anything - I think I agree with you - we did not announce that it would be limited to the computer room and as I said at the CBRRA meeting yesterday we are keeping the mobile running until we can do some re-arranging. I also mentioned that there are no shops for lease in Grantville so we need to make this convenient interim location comfortable and accessible.

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Joy Button
21/7/2019 08:20:36 pm

Councillor Ellis, as you have elected to make the announcement of the Waterline Library service, will you disclose the full details of that service. Could you please make this disclosure as Councillor for the Western Port Ward and Chairman of the Board of West Gippsland Library Services.
We are all waiting ......

Janice Orchard
21/7/2019 02:46:29 pm

Cr Ellis I am absolutely delighted that the Waterline Library will be at Grantville. Although the Transaction Centre is small it is a beginning and I live in hope that the community will give it the support needed to show council that it is worthwhile and necessary to provide a larger venue in the not too distant future. I have a list of books that I look forward to borrowing!

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Veronica Dowman
21/7/2019 03:01:27 pm

"Although the total Waterline population exceeds the population of Inverloch, library usage numbers on our side of the shire are much lower", says Cr Ellis. This is because the mobile library service was NEVER
promoted within the Waterline townships and was allowed to run down, even taking into account your dodgy stats,

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Christine
21/7/2019 07:01:08 pm

I live in Grantville nearly 3 years. And only read about the mobile library when it was decided to cease its services. I never seen any mentioning in papers or anything before that . I am sure I would have used its services

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 07:55:07 pm

Hi Christine,

I apologize for not ensuring that all residents were aware of the mobile timetable.

Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 08:13:12 pm

Thanks Veronica,

I value your input very highly and can see that things could have been done differently in the past.

I sincerely regret the angst that has arisen around these discussions and hope we can all work together.

I also apologise for any personal affront or lack of respect.

Geoff Ellis

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Christine
21/7/2019 06:30:15 pm

600 books vs 1000s
1/3 of space in one location vs a mobile bus servicing the waterline.
Click and collect in 2 locations vs access to a wide variety across the waterline
6 hours Librarian in one location vs 10+ covering the the entire waterline.
THIS IS NOT AN ENHANCED SERVICE
Local councillors have lost my vote

Reply
Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 08:03:23 pm

Hi Christine,

I just want to point out that, as BCSC board representative and chairperson of the Library Corp the buck stops with me. I have taken leadership in this move to a more accessible and sustainable service delivery model I am happy to take full responsibility for the outcome. I am happy to discuss the 'enhancement' with you as we role outreach programs across the waterline.

In terms of voting, its not up to me to advise anyone but please consider that councillors have different portfolios of interest and mine includes 'the library' to a much greater extent than any other councillor.

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Michele Hardy
21/7/2019 09:14:04 pm

To Cr Ellis,

I read with interest your article on the Bass Coast Post regarding the Waterline library to be established at Grantville. As an adult educator, I am an avid proponent for life long learning and the opportunities that libraries provide to support that. I am also a resident and ratepayer of the Bass Coast Shire and the Waterline community.

I wholeheartedly agree that it makes sense to locate the new library at Grantville as there is nothing at this end of the Shire. The closest library to me is either Wonthaggi or Korumburra, both around a half-hour drive away.

The concept of "a standalone facility that reflects the expectations of the community" is exciting and will help bring people into Grantville, something that is needed to keep the current businesses thriving. There have been discussions and rumours of a supermarket opening up in Grantville for years. We bought our piece of paradise 10 years ago and it was mentioned to us at the time, but it has still not eventuated. I would hate to see the same thing happen to our potential library - lots of great promises, but no actual facility.

There were some other points in your article that were interesting. You mentioned that "Although the total Waterline population exceeds the population of Inverloch, library usage numbers on our side of the shire are much lower." I think there are a few reasons for that. Yes, the population exceeds Inverloch, but the distance between the communities and from an actual standalone library is much further. The waterline communities are a lot more isolated than Inverloch, and Inverloch actually has a library in town, so of course, the library usage is going to be higher.

I also have some concerns with using the Transaction centre in the interim, however long that may be. Libraries are supposed to be for everyone and there are guidelines for standards that need to be taken into account for people with disabilities. The room that will be used is very small and with added shelving, books, computers, tables, and chairs, it leaves very little room for a couple of people and a person with a wheelchair or other mobility aid. There are also people that do not like to be in such a small and confined space. Below is an extract from the ALIA website:

At a legislative level, the Disability Services Act 1986 emphasised the principle of normalisation and integration of people with disabilities into mainstream community life. The three objectives of the Act which have particular relevance for libraries are:

Objective 2 Services should contribute to ensuring that the conditions of the everyday life of people with disabilities are the same as, or as close as possible to, norms and patterns which are valued in the general community.

Objective 3 Service should be provided as part of local co-ordinated service systems and be integrated with services generally available to the community, wherever possible.

Objective 7 Programs and services should be designed and administered so as to promote the participation of people with disabilities in the life of the local community through maximum physical and social integration into that community.

The Disability Discrimination Act of 1992 and the Equal Opportunity Act of 1995 further underlined these principles.

Guidelines in areas such as collection development, promotion and delivery of services, computer applications and adaptive technology, and staff training, are required in order to encourage a standardised, basic level of library service in libraries.
https://www.alia.org.au/about-alia/policies-and-guidelines/alia-policies/guidelines-library-standards-people-disabilities

So what are the options? It was mentioned in your article that a shopfront might be a possibility. Aren't there any vacant shops in Grantville? Could the trailer of the current mobile library be utilised? Could a portable building be purchased or hired? Any of these would be a much better solution than the meeting room within the Transaction centre.

My fear is that the interim Waterline Library will not get used, not because we don't want a library, but because it does not provide the promised enhanced service and is in fact less than the services provided by the current mobile library service. If the service is not utilised, this could then hamper a real enhanced service, such as a standalone facility.

Thank you for your time in reading this and I look forward to your response

Michele Hardy
The Gurdies

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Cr Geoff Ellis
21/7/2019 10:57:27 pm

Thanks Michelle,

You make some great points and I will reply in detail when I get a chance. Just for the moment, as Chairperson of Council Access and Advisory Committee I am very concerned re accessibility and the community has rightly told us that a shopfront, if one was available, would be the best option.

I understand your concerns and agree with you about the spread of our patrons across the Waterline. I want our numbers to increase dramatically and we need that demand.

Thanks for your input.

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Allie Reilly
26/7/2019 12:12:35 pm

Hi Geoff,

I find it hard to believe you are worried about accessibility. When I raised accessibility issues I received phone calls from Michael and Leanne (CEO) from the Library corporation. Michael told me that they were listening to points of views from disable people, but then went on to say that the decision was already made.

Leanne then called me. I told her I had just come out of hospital and was very unwell, yet she still proceeded to bully me into accepting her point of view. She told me that again that the decision would not be reversed. I asked why you would do consultation after the fact and she did not answer. There was no understanding of the difficulties faced by people who have mobility issues.

From Coronet Bay, you would need to catch the community bus to Grantville, get to the Grantville transaction centre, and navigate the small room. From there you may have to wait two hours for the next bus -- because those services have been cut in the last few years -- and then get a bus back. This whole process would take hours at best even if the bus returns relatively quickly. This is unaccessible to those with severe mobility issues. The community bus is not equiped to take wheelchairs or scooters, so you are cutting out a whole range of people who rely on the library service.

I have sent a letter to the council meeting and never received a response.

I am disappointed in our council and in your lack of understanding of the issues faced by our community.

Reply



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