Libraries on wheels – Why don’t we have real libraries?

Thanks Angela, I was asking the question rhetorically.

personally i believe it’s more important to have libraries available and standing empty than it is to acheive these sort of “efficiencies” which really only serve those accustomed to the routines of the service.

basically I think it’s a worthy investment of any society to have a well known building with unchanged hours where knowledge and literature is freely available.

if there’s more equity in internet access in a few years then we could argue it was no longer necessary.

but we’re a long way away from that.

Hi Johnboy. I am currently doing Library Studies at TAFE and I believe I can answer your question. Also Thumper answered the question spot on too. Different governments will fund different things, and it just depends on what the government believes is a good investment. The government of today probably doesn’t believe that having a library building will serve a purpose in your community, perhaps because the old one was not being used by many people. As governments change they will either decide to increase or slash funding to libraries (and schools), which ultimately leads to this sort of thing happening. It is very inconvenient to the community when this happens, so I would suggest that maybe you could write to your local MP about the issue.

Real libraries require more staff, maintenance, and have to be purchased, which all in all cost a hell of a lot more than a bus.

A mobile library in a place like Canberra is frankly ridiculous given that we already have some to service the old and infirm or those who simply have no access.

Sounds like cost cutting in the guise of doing something good for the community.

hmmmm, strange. We already have mobile libraries servicing residents, especially the aged and disabled…why do we need more?
Perhaps a bus that takes the people to a real library would be of more use.