By Dominique Tassell
Locals spoke up at last week’s Connecting with Council meeting in Killarney to highlight the lack of access they have to proper library services.
Colin and Marge Murphy from Mt Colliery asked when the community would get the library van back or get an “actual library” provided by Southern Downs Regional Council.
A staff member stated they had been talking with local facilities, including the Killarney CWA, about using their facilities and staff.
They stated that the library van is hard to social distance in, and stated that home delivery is an option.
Locals stated it “doesn’t suit us at all how it’s happening now”.
They said it’s “wonderful” for the community to have the van, but it is indeed quite small and hard to use.
Locals stated “we need a library here” in Killarney, and there is enough demand to justify it.
Locals made allusions to the growth of other libraries in the region, wondering why funding was not being more spread out.
Staff agreed that the current mobile library is quite restrictive, and said it will take some time to find a solution.
Locals stated they just want to know that the Council are working on it, with one joking it used to be the place to get all the local gossip.
The Council provides libraries in three towns throughout the region, with those located in Allora, Stanthorpe, and Warwick.
They also provide a mobile library service, which travels to Dalveen, Karara, Killarney, Leyburn, Maryvale, Pratten, Wheatvale, and Yangan.
