As we near the tail end of our ‘big and little’ competition we have a spectacular entry from Manly Library who have submitted details of their MANLY AFLOAT mobile library service (in the smallest library category!).  The MANLY AFLOAT vehicle has been servicing the commuters on Manly Wharf between 7:15am and 9:15am Monday to Friday since 2007. The vehicle measures 1.15m wide and 3.35m long. It has 5.72 linear metres of face out display shelving, which can take up to 4 books deep.  The service has its own stock, just like a physical branch library.  Library users can return the main Library stock through this service, and order/reserve the main Library stock as well.  A handheld PDA is used to issue and return books, it’s an offline system which is loaded daily into the Library circulation system.

Richard Barclay the Library Assistant who manages the service also regularly answers Community Information questions, tourist questions, bus & transport questions… and he knows all the answers!

The MANLY AFLOAT vehicle at Manly Wharf with Manly Library staff member Richard Barclay

A big thanks to Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian at Manly for sending this entry in.

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA PLAC

Good things come in small packages. Must be true as everyone is very keen to tell me about their ’small’ library (and they all look gorgeous).

Kate Hithersay, Library Manager at Derby Public Library  was the first person to respond when I sent out my appeal with a question, did a ‘temporary’ site count? Needless to say I was intrigued and demanded more details. Kate explains:

Fitzroy Crossing is in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.  It is located 2686 km north of Perth, 258 km east of Derby. Among other facilities the town once boasted the Tarunda Shopping Centre (where the Post Office lived), a dedicated Public Library and a dedicated Tourist Centre.

Then in July 2009 disaster struck!! The shopping centre burnt down. The Post Office had no where to go and apparently as a Post Office takes precedence over a Public Library (???), the PO moved into the library space. The library resources were packed up and put in the storeroom for the time being.  However, the library members revolted at this insult and the library was forced to reopen in December 2009, sharing space with the Tourist Centre (temporarily).This once proud library has know been reduced to a space of 20.2 sq metres.

 Good news though, the new improved Fitzroy Crossing Public Library is to re open towards the end of this year.

We’ll make sure Kate keeps us updated on that! Keep your stories coming in.

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair, ALIA PLAC