YARRA Ranges’ new and expanded mobile library service has been given the permanent go-ahead, after a successful six-month trial.
Following an extensive review of library services, council announced it would trial a new flexi-service van to replace the ageing B-double library truck.
The new van is able to bring more books to the community while also being flexible enough to deliver a greater range of programs to a wider audience.
The 2014 review showed the old library truck, which had been in service for 30 years, no longer met community needs.
Older residents and people with a disability were unable to physically access it and it was costly to run.
The new flexi vehicle has no steps, making it more accessible and offers books, magazines and DVDs.
It can also visit places the larger truck could not access.
The flexi vehicle visits designated locations regularly, but can also attend festivals and events throughout each year as part of council’s mobile library service.
Since the trial began in January, the flexi vehicle has visited various regular locations around the Yarra Ranges.
Following the success of the trial period, the expanded flexi service will continue to visit Kirkbrae aged care facility in Kilsyth, Walmsley Village in Kilsyth, Millgrove, Seville, Warburton and Woori Yallock.
However, it will no longer visit Mount Dandenong due to low visitation rates and the limited number of suitable locations that have shelter nearby to protect users from the weather.
The new library service will provide significant ongoing savings which council will reinvest in improving technology at existing libraries, including paying for the increasingly popular wi-fi at branches.
Other future technological changes that council could invest in includes trialling e-readers, ipads and laptop loans, upgrading technology in preparation for the NBN roll-out and expanding the digital literacy program in the Yarra Valley.
