Bringing books to the region

TWO years since it was first announced, the region’s mobile library service has a more modern set of wheels.

Delivered through the State Government’s Living Libraries Infrastructure Program, the new mobile library van was officially unveiled last week.

The new van is on the region’s roads courtesy of $111,000 from the State, $1400 through the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, and $37,000 from Golden Plains Shire.

Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said the new vehicle will allow the library service, which features a 400,000-item resource collection, to reach towns previously left unvisited.

“It’s an exciting new chapter to have this library bus,” he said. “The new bus will have improved accessibility features including a wheelchair hoist and a design that’s both flexible and economical.

“It allows us to extend into other parts of the shire. Being a smaller bus, it’ll allow us to get into other locations we couldn’t before with better parking capabilities.

“The other bus is about 30 years old and definitely due for an update.

“It’ll also give us an array of other sources like DVDs, magazines, audiobooks. People can put orders onto those items and they’ll be put onto the bus.

“From what we know of the figures, the mobile library is a great facility for people throughout the shire.”

Member for Eureka Michaela Settle took a look inside the van while it was parked out the front of the Meredith Community Centre on Thursday morning last week, and said it’s an essential improvement over the previously utilised mobile truck.

“We really acknowledge the place libraries have in communities,” she said.

“It’s much more than borrowing books, it’s about connecting with other people and bringing a sense of community.

“What’s wonderful about the mobile library is it’s bringing that service to the people.”