Palm Beach Library, Gold Coast, proposed to be replaced by a book vending machine
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.
Gold Coast
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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.
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 draw cards 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.
“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.
EARLIER: A marathon meeting after a proposal to transition one of the Gold Coast’s libraries to a book vending machine, has been meet with resignation by locals who attended.
Palm Beach library, on Eleventh Ave, was selected as part of a council proposition to be replaced by a book vending machine – with existing space to instead be used as a community centre, primarily for the use of seniors activities and other groups.
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Instead of a traditional library, items will be rented through myGClibrary book vending machines offering the most popular books and DVDs, along with hard-copy magazines and newspapers.
Gold Coast City Council has said the decision followed a decline in users and the fact another library was located just a short distance down the road.
A consultation meeting with residents on Thursday night ran for two hours with locals united in their push to retain the library in its current form.
During the meeting it was revealed the vending machines were likely to cost $30,000 but offer more access to users outside of usual business hours.
Those who attended said members were told the library loaned out 25,000 books in 2019.
Palm Beach resident Trish Pilarski who attended said officers told her there was more consultation in the works but they did not elaborate.
Another member who commented online said the vending machine proposal appeared to be set in stone.
“It seems a forgone conclusion that they are going to set up a machine, kiosk, they call it, with books that we can borrow,” the library member said.
“Close the main part down as a library and find a community group to manage it all. They suggested exercise classes, art, technology classes etc could be held for seniors. Shame, it was a lovely little library.”
Area councillor Daphne McDonald was unavailable but had responded to the issue online.
On Facebook Cr McDonald said: “I do not agree with the closing of community facilities in a growing city, whether it be swimming pools, customer service centres or libraries.”
“Some 10 years ago council wanted to close the Palm Beach library due to dwindling numbers. I was able to keep it going and 11th Ave Creative was established unfortunately numbers have continued to decrease with residents using the new larger library at Elanora.
“I requested the CEO consult with the community and this is what is happening now about retaining library services for Palm Beach and repurposing an area that this under-utilised for community use.”
EARLIER: 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.
According to the council, the proposal has been put forward due to the dwindling use of the library, with only 128 active Palm Beach library members using it in the 12 months from July 2019 to July 2020.
However Palm Beach residents said they don’t want to lose it.
Trish Pilarski, who first raised concern about the disappearance of the local library, said she hoped it would not be replaced.
“It is a space where people go to feel safe and to feel included. It is a lot more than just having access to books,” Ms Pilarski said.
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The Palm Beach mother said she had questions regarding the estimate of 128 users given the support for the library that has come forward on social media since the vending proposal was made public.
“The numbers include those who have signed up to Palm Beach library as their home library but not everyone who uses it,” Ms Pilarski said.
“I have spoken to many people who use it and were not aware of the proposal.
“What people don’t understand is the limited number of books these vending machines can hold at any time, and the impact on children. There is no discussion about how these changes will effect their opportunity to explore.”
Councillor Hermann Vorster said the proposal at Palm Beach was only a trial and locals would still have access to the Elanora Library, which is less than 2km away.
He also confirmed there would be no impact on jobs.
“Council is supportive of trialling the vending machines, as an opportunity to deliver resources to Gold Coast residents in other areas,” Cr Vorster said.
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