Noosa’s semi-trailer mounted mobile library should be replaced with a Tardis-like telephone box, according to a Pomona community activist.
The 14-year-old mobile library is set to retire.
Noosa Council plans to run a vehicle the size of a motorhome, holding about 2500 items, from the end of next year.
The council is also planning to introduce a 24/7 self-serve library kiosks in Pomona and Peregian Beach.
But Mr Brian O’Conner was concerned about the move and said the replacement should be “like-for-like”.
“There talking about a kiosk with 300 items, but I don’t know how it works,” he said.
“They’re also talking about a community partnership arrangement and I don’t know what that means, whether they provide books in shops or community centres,” Mr O’Connor said.
He said Peregian and Pomona were mobile library borrowing hot spots and should have a permanent library presence.
Mr O’Connor suggested to the council to turn old telephone booths into libraries as it was done in English villages.
“You could have a telephone booth in Stan Topper Park that has murder mysteries and one outside the community house that has nonfiction, so you could just walk around the town to the booth that suits you,” he said.
Council director of community services Kerri Contini said council helped establish several street libraries several years ago.
She said the new cost-effective, flexible mobile library vehicle would better handle rural roads, include an alfresco area and travel around the shire weekly.
Organisations and other localities could also book the mobile service for a special visit for the first time.
“We want to open up the service to more people, improve access to information and technology,” Ms Contini said.
Residents are being asked for feedback on the proposed service and what resources and programs could be included at libraries@noosa.qld.gov.au