Hobsons Bay council last week deferred controversial plans for a Newport Youth, Library and Seniors Centre after residents complained that design plans showed no bookshelves.
The Weekly understands that one proposal is for people to order a book online and collect it from a chute-like system at the Paine Reserve centre in Mason Street.
A source told the Weekly that internal research showed people were increasingly using Hobsons Bay’s libraries to read newspapers or go online, rather than just borrow books. So Hobsons Bay is looking to overseas models.
Tony Codd, of the Friends of Williamstown and Newport Libraries, said he wasn’t too impressed with the idea.
“I don’t agree with what the council says about people not coming to the library to read books,” Mr Codd said. “I’d like to see a traditional library … with books and DVDs and CDs and things like that.” Two years ago, the council opened a new $8.1 million library at Williamstown.
Mr Codd said Newport should not be treated like a poor cousin.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the library plans had been deferred to March 11 to give councillors more time to consider community feedback. “The Newport library service will complement the Williamstown and Altona North libraries by providing a range of different services based on ebooks, digital information and learning.’’
