We, the Bass Coast Shire residents of The Gurdies, Pioneer Bay, Grantville, Tenby Point, Corinella, Coronet Bay, Bass, Kilcunda, San Remo and surrounds and the South Gippsland Shire residents of Welshpool, Fish Creek, Sandy Point, Tarwin Lower, Toora & surrounds, petition the Premier of Victoria, the West Gippsland Regional Library Board, Baw Baw Shire Council, Bass Coast Shire Council and South Gippsland Shire Council, to retain the South Coast Mobile Library Truck service.

The West Gippsland Regional Library Board has decided to cancel the South Coast Mobile Library truck and trailer:

Without consulting with the community

• Using as justification, a 2014 survey that failed to mention the cancellation of the Mobile library service.
•  Presenting selective statistics that disregard the overall excellent performance of library usage.
•  Discriminating against South Coast Mobile Library Service by comparing book usage against larger townships.
•  Failing to promote the mobile library and failing to alert the community to help promote the service.
• Ignoring the predicted 37% increase in population in the Bass Shire over the next 18 years.
•  Presenting excessive figures regarding the cost of a replacement vehicle.
•  Suggesting alternative “options” to replace the mobile library that are totally inadequate and will provide a significantly inferior service.

Alternative Options: We already have drop-off points and on-line services; we can already speak to a librarian over the phone and we don’t want to be limited to a trolley or a few shelves of books.

Our Mobile Library: “We meet there. We browse a broad selection of books. We support each other. We share opinions about books. A social place is provided for isolated rural people. Our mobile library provides a service for those without transport and those without computers and the elderly who are not screen savvy. A country town’s mental health is dependent on its social contacts. Our children and teens need to have facilities that are not screen fixated. Reading books and talking to each other is vital.. Most of all ....books feel great, books smell great, there is nothing as inspiring as a book!”

For the reasons outlined above, I request that funding be made available for the purchase of a new or second hand vehicle to replace the aging, imminently de-commissioned South Coast Mobile Library Truck.