By Matt Male
BASS Coast residents in small Waterline towns are fighting a move to scrap the West Gippsland Libraries mobile truck, arguing the proposed replacement options are rubbish.
The library corporation denies there will be a downgrade in service for affected towns; and argues it’s a costly service which has seen a significant decline in people using it.
But the move has sparked outrage amongst the small communities of Coronet Bay, Tenby Point, San Remo and others – with their mobile truck visits coming to an end on June 30, 2019.
The move will also end truck visits to Corinella, Kilcunda, Grantville, Fish Creek, Toora, Sandy Point, Tarwin Lower and Welshpool.
Ten Waterline residents attended a library board meeting in Cowes last Friday, wanting to make sure their resentment was being heard.
Tenby Point’s Peter Granger said the corporation “keeps saying everyone’s been consulted”.
“That’s absolutely untrue,” he said.
Mr Granger said the axing of the truck would affect the smallest towns in the shire – and some of the oldest people.
“You’ve abandoned them,” Mr Granger continued.
“I understand that we have to be more progressive, but this won’t be an improvement.”
Mr Granger said the library corporation failed to consult stakeholders as they’re only asking for users’ opinions after they decided to axe the truck.
“The justification is ridiculous. You’re saying people use it less, therefore we should stop it,” Mr Granger said.
“It’s an outreach service. That’s the role of it.”
Coronet Bay’s Levinus Van Der Neut questioned library CEO Leanne Williams’ statement that it would cost $1m to buy a new library truck, when a quick Google search uncovered one for sale for between $500,000 and $600,000.
He also questioned why Bass Coast was getting a “raw deal” when it cost more to provide library services to other shires.
West Gippsland Libraries CEO Leanne Williams said there are ways to enhance the service to the community, so people can have access to the library collection for more hours per week, compared to the truck.
Joy Button, a Bass Coast resident of 11 years, said it was the responsibility of governments and councils to provide community services.
She pointed out the library made a surplus of more than $350,000 in the 2017-18 financial year.
The San Remo resident said the truck visits isolated Waterline communities, including many people who can’t drive to access permanent libraries.
“I asked Leanne [Williams] for a guarantee that we wouldn’t have a downgrade in service.
“She gave me that assurance. But it’s all spin.”
Library board members made the decision to axe the truck behind closed doors more than four months ago.
The minutes from that meeting are now public – which include more than 70 pages of notes and graphs.
That was to be more “transparent”, according to board Chair Cr Geoff Ellis.
The corporation insists they’ve made no firm commitments on what will replace the truck – and want users to fill out a survey to help them decide, which has been sent out via email and post to library users.
They’re also looking at working with community groups to set-up micro libraries or book drop-off and pick-up points, with longer hours compared to the truck.
Users will still be able to place holds, and have books and other physical loans delivered to these micro sites. There will also be librarians available over-the-phone to get book recommendations and assistance.
The corporation’s also looking at boosting outreach programs, and having more author talks and other special events.
Library figures
West Gippsland Libraries provided this information on the cost of the truck and the number of people using it.
“The annual running cost of the South Coast Mobile service is $204,000 and this is continuing to increase due to break-downs,” the corporation’s Strategy and Communication Manager, Shaun Inguanzo, said in an email.
“This quarter (July to September 2018) alone repairs to the mobile library have cost $7444 compared to the same time last year only being $1958.
“An increase of 280 percent. There are 252 users of the South Coast Mobile in Bass Coast, and 121 in South Gippsland,” the spokesperson said of the September 2017 figures.
“The user figures represent the users who exclusively use and rely on the mobile service – not people who live in towns where they have access to static libraries or visit a static library as well as the mobile.
“As of EOFY 17-18, visits per hour to the South Coast Mobile were 6.9, well down on the 26 visits per hour average across our region.
“Similarly, loans per hour on the Mobile were an average of 19, well down on the regional average of 40.38 per hour and the minimum benchmark used across regional library services in Victoria being 25 per hour.
“Over the last five years (since 2013-14), visits per hour on South Coast Mobile have declined by 18 percent. Loans have remained steady at 19 per hour which is still 24 percent below the minimum Victorian benchmark used by Regional Library Corporations.
“This is in contrast to our network-wide average visits and loans per hours. Since 2013-14, visits per hour have increased by 5 percent across our network, while loans have increased by 19,711 loans or 2.4 percent.”
I cant imagine how I would survive without access to our local library,
I really feel for people who are not able to travel to nearest branch and are now going to lose mobile library
$7444 + $1958 (just under $4500 per year) in repairs is minimal considering the size of the vehicle. Agencies and Local Govs (shires) are loosing sight of the unique demographics and needs of its communities in the BC Waterline area. I am seeing services falling down and communities continually having to justify their value and need. Where is the transparency and equitable access. I fail to see how 352 people on average across the Gippsland South Coast are not important or deserving enough to have this service continue. We are not living in suburban areas and are more distantly places to major towns. It takes 35 mins without hold ups to drive from Corinella to Wonthaggi. It takes 50 mins to Warragul, 50 mins to Leongatha and 45 mins to Cowes. I also fail to see how a decision can be made using a short evaluation period and without community awareness nor adequate consumer consultation. I have not seen effective promotion nor any creativty to increase those numbers over the years or trialling of any different times and days. This has been handled very inappropriately. Effective change should be driven with its consumers and local communise. Seems to be a ‘Fine’ example of ‘dictatorship’.
The could have run some programs to advertise the library bus and it’s services. But instead they decided to axe much needed services. Not everyone has the ability to drive or access public transport. Without the library bus, I will not be able to access the library due to my disabilities. Despite repeated attempts to get someone to call me, I am still yet to here from the library to address my concerns
A smart CEO and marketing department that truly cared about the region they serve, would of trialed a marketing campaign to stimulate visit and loan numbers before cutting a service, with no prior consultation with the community this decision negatively affects.
This move is in direct contradiction to Public libraries Victoria’s current campaign that is promoting the immense community benefit of mobile library visits to isolated areas. The ignorance towards the community, this decision greatly impacts, would not have happened on the previous CEO’s watch!! As a business owner and resident living in the Bass coast municipality I feel it is impossible to stay silent on this issue that I know would of been handled in a much more community engaging manor by my father, previous CEO of WGRLC of 19 years John Murrell (RIP).
Our population in the area is greatly increasing and withit so is the average age. A growing and aging population benifits immensely from a consistent mobile library visit the facts and research are there clearly in the WGRLC’s hands. It also astounds me that a replacement of a key fleet vehicle has not been budgeted for over the past many years of service!. Or maybe those funds have been used to bolster the surplus figures…. so many questions, not many justifiable, clear answers.