Mobile books at risk

By Mara Pattison-Sowden and Russell Bennett
YARRA Valley communities could lose their regular mobile library services in a new plan unless they get involved in community consultation.
Don Valley, Hoddles Creek, East Warburton, Chum Creek, Dixons Creek, Yellingbo, Gruyere and Yarra Glen are at risk of having regular visits cancelled and some residents are worried it will spell the end of the service altogether.
However, residents in aged care facilities and residential caravan parks would benefit from the proposed plan.
Yarra Ranges Council wants to scrap the existing mobile library service trucks because they are too expensive to replace.
The current B-double trucks are nearing the end of their 30-year life span and replacing them would cost more than $1.4 million.
Instead, the council released its Mobile Library Service Draft Report at its 28 June meeting, which proposed using smaller vehicles such as Ford Transits for aged care and outreach visits.
The vehicles will deliver books and resources on demand to the shire’s elderly residents in aged care facilities.
Residents in aged care homes such as Healesville’s Monda Lodge or Warburton’s AdventCare would receive fortnightly visits, as well as those in Britannia Ridge and Doon Reserve Caravan Parks in Yarra Junction.
The Powelltown community would benefit from seven days a week access to library resources.
Britannia Ridge manager Craig Jenkins said they had more than 50 long-term residents who could benefit from the service.
“We’re a good five kilometres out of town and a lot of them don’t have vehicles, they’re elderly and they can’t just walk down the street,” he said.
“It would be a great service for us…we’d have 250 books on-site and a computer where residents can register for particular books they want to read.”
But Monbulk reverend Ken Magrath said the existing service was “a unique and charming experience” and “important to so many people”.
“The council calls it a drop-off point,” he said. “But it’s more than that…it’s a meeting place.”
Chandler Ward councillor Graham Warren said last Tuesday: “When you’re considering to replace mobile libraries at around $1.5 million, you need to consider if that’s the best model to deliver services to our communities.
“I think it’s important that we engage the community and reflect their views,” Cr Warren said. Walling Ward’s Cr Len Cox said he understood community concerns, “but if this new system goes ahead, it’ll reach more people than it can now and reach further around the shire.”
“New vehicles will be able to deliver books, DVDs and magazines in a more efficient and quick way to a wider range of people than has previously been the case,” he said.
For more information on the mobile library services consultation survey, contact Jackie Elward on 1300 368 333 or visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Libraries.