2022-07-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    12 JULY 2022


6.   REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE



6    MOBILE LIBRARY REPLACEMENT PLAN UPDATE


Author           Rachel Oldfield, Branch Libraries Team Leader
                 Libraries & Galleries, Community Services Department

Index            ECM/Subject/33.15 – Mobile Library

Attachments      Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
After 16 years, the Noosa Mobile Library Service prime mover and trailer has reached its end
of life. In February 2021, Council endorsed a new Community Outreach Library Service model
to continue to offer outreach library services to hinterland and coastal areas that do not have a
branch library in close proximity. This new service model replaces the Mobile Library with a
hybrid of library services to extend the reach of library services in the community.

The tender processes for the new vehicle and library book-vending kiosks have now been
completed and the new service model is being implemented and on track to be within the
allocated capital works project budget.

The COVID-19 pandemic and supplier delays have resulted in project wide delays, affecting
the receipt of the new vehicle and Library kiosks. Despite the delays, the new service
continues to be implemented in a staged approach, with the library kiosks becoming
operational mid-2022 and the launch of the new outreach vehicle by the end of 2022.

Community consultation with users and non-users of the service has helped inform the
planning of this replacement model. Formal consultation showed strong support for new
alternative delivery methods and an overall positive response to the proposed service model.
Ongoing consultation with key stakeholders and community updates on the progress of the
replacement plan have continued throughout this project.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Branch Libraries Team Leader to the Services &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 12 July 2022 on the update of the Mobile Library
replacement Project Plan.

REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the implementation of the new
Community Outreach Service model.
1.   Community Outreach Library Service Model
The new Community Outreach Library Service Model will replace the current Mobile Library
Service with a combination of different library service elements, including:
•     A smaller, more versatile vehicle travelling around the shire on a weekly schedule.
•     Two library ‘book-vending’ kiosks, located at Pomona and Peregian Beach.
•     Bulk loans to partner organisations.
•     Home Library delivery Service.
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