East Gippsland Shire Council has made the expanded mobile library service permanent and will maintain library and customer service centre opening hours.
Council’s decision follows a 12-month trial of opening hours, put in place following the completion of a review of the service in November 2022. The trial included additional investment from council into the service.
Mayor Cr Tom Crook said the decision includes allocating additional budget to support the community in being able to access what was important to them.
“Our centres provide a wide range of services. You can participate in programs, enquire about any of our services or projects, use a range of facilities, read, and borrow a book. And our libraries and service centres are a wonderful place to connect socially,” Cr Crook said.
The 12-month trial included the addition of a second mobile vehicle in May last year.
“This additional service has been very well received and is reaching more people in more locations; 40 per cent more locations than previously. It is making it easier for people to access council services in their own, often remote, communities and the feedback has been positive. It is fantastic that we can make this expanded service permanent.”
Throughout the trial, data was collected on how and when people engaged with each site. This data was shared with the community in December 2023 and March 2024, ahead of council considering the outcomes of the trial.
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“Community use of libraries and service centres fluctuates, but what we are seeing is that the service is well used,” Cr Crook said.
“Changes made to resourcing at sites has also provided greater capacity to reintroduce library programming at Mallacoota and Omeo, and limit unplanned site closures.”
Cr Crook thanked all community members and Friends of the Library groups for their feedback and involvement in the service review and trial.
“There is a real pride and passion in our library service and that has certainly shone through during the service review and trial,” Cr Crook said.
Data will continue to be collected on library and service centre use to inform future service delivery improvements and efficiencies. The Council Report, including the 12-month trial data and comparisons, is available on council’s website.
Throughout the trial council has worked to find efficiencies so the added cost of the additional service has been reduced by about half.
“The Friends of Paynesville Library (FOPL) were pleased when our councillors accepted the recommendations from library officers to retain the existing opening hours of the East Gippsland regional libraries,” FOPL president, Fiona Seaton said.
“The Friends campaigned for two years to try and convince councillors and officers the importance of Paynesville Library to our community. We held special events to encourage new people to come to the library and competitions for adults and children. We were made very aware from library users the many different services provided, were to people of all ages.
“At times some users were quite emotional about losing face to face hours with dedicated staff who would often solve their problem, which seemed insurmountable to them. The Library is many things to many people – all equally important to the welfare and enjoyment of our community.
“It is now up to the community to make good use of our Library and perhaps remember that the library is not an entitlement but a free service provided to our community at a cost to Local Government, and we now have to continue to use it and grow it.
“We appreciate the courtesy and professional way were always treated by councillors and we look forward to good times ahead.”
