Palm Beach Library: Frustrated residents fight to save Gold Coast's smallest library

FRUSTRATED Palm Beach residents claim decision makers are not listening to concerns about closing the local library.

FRUSTRATED Palm Beach residents claim decision makers are not listening to concerns about closing the local library.

Last week Gold Coast City Council released its report on the future of the library on 11th Ave, recommending that two elaborate book vending machines worth $37,000 each be used in place of traditional services - due to what council officers say is a drop in usage.

The proposal also included extended site hours.

But residents and users say the library was punching above its weight when it comes to its readership, lending 24,000 items last year and should not be shut because it was the smallest in the system.

Well over 350 members of the public have written in to share concerns about the process and also argued the plans to reduce the library to a foyer with a printer and the vending machines did not take into account the needs of the growing population.

One of the organisers of the ‘Friends of Palm Beach Library’ group Trish Pilarski said she hoped councillors will chose wisely when they vote on the matter later on Tuesday.

“The community has spoken out in large numbers on this and written to the council on a number of occasions about their need for a traditional library service and that only features as a small point in the report and not in the recommendations at all,” Ms Pilarski.

“The fact is this is part of a long-term plan by council developed in 2001 as detailed in the report, surely things have changed since then and the community needs are different.

“This is a 20 year old plan.”

Ms Pilarski said the consultation was a farce given the library had not been opened since it was closed for COVID in mid-March and many books had already been removed.

“17 volunteer led groups have been displaced since March, council says increased community utilisation is the objective but they have not made it clear how a new model will work or if the facility is managed by a contractor,” she said.

“Palm Beach is being targeted for closure because it is the smallest library remaining in the Gold Coast.

“If the bigger agenda is to close the smaller libraries on the Gold Coast then that should be clearly stated, not blamed on under-utilisation. This is an issue of importance for all Gold Coast ratepayers.”

The report to the lifestyle and community committee states the replacement of this collection with library vending machines is a suitable alternative based on the low numbers of borrowing made at the library and given the close [proximity to the Elanora Library, 2.06km away.

“The overall site should then be repurposed as a dedicated community space,” council officers wrote.

“The hours of operation would increase to match the Customer Contact opening hours – in effect doubling the library opening hours.”

EARLIER

A PUSH to save the Palm Beach library has started a new chapter, with locals launching a novel solution to prevent the council from closing the book on the 40-year-old institution.

This week signs in support of the library have started to appear in front of homes in the busy suburb, following a council proposal to replace the library in 11th Ave with a book vending machine and instead use the space for community group meetings.

Megan Buckley, Trish Pilarksi and Palm Beach residents fighting to save the library. Picture: Jerad Williams

A group calling itself Friends of Palm Beach Library has distributed brochures at its own cost to raise awareness in the suburb of the council plan.

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Group member Megan Buckley, who has lived in Palm Beach for four years, said the library was one of the drawcards that brought her to the area.

“It is the village feel of Palm Beach that makes it so special. The library is a central part of that,’’ she said.

“Whether people are card-carrying library members or not, it is seen as a community hub.”

The Gold Coast City Council previously said that if the proposal went through, the rooms would be retained for groups to hire for use, and managed through a tender.

The council proposal was put forward following a decrease in library use, with the city saying the library had only 128 active members. A council spokesman said the library space would instead be used for broader community service-based offerings such as training for the elderly, informal social interaction like card groups, craft groups, book clubs, and outreach services.

Palm Beach Community Lounge and Library. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We were told at the meeting there would be a tender to manage the community space, but how does that work in this (COVID economic) climate? We are worried it will just become a dark space never to be used,” Ms Buckley said.

“We have so many people moving to Palm Beach, it just doesn’t make sense to be removing community services in this way.”

Group members wanted to work with the council on improving the use of the library and increasing library outreach to ensure the service stayed.

Area councillor Daphne McDonald has called for feedback on the proposal, to be sent by October 22.