Flinders Mobile Library

The Flinders Mobile Library began as a demonstration project in 1982 from a proposal by the Libraries Board of South Australia made in early 1981. The Library was originally run from the Port Pirie Public Library using stock from the Library Board’s collection. The service was to originally cover the Council Areas of Laura, Gladstone, Crystal Brook, Mount Remarkable and Redhill. The trial began in January 1982 and covered the District Council Areas of Mount Remarkable, Gladstone and Redhill. The new library began life as the Southern Flinders Mobile Library. The library began with a fortnightly timetable to visit all 10 towns in the area which were at the time; Gladstone, Wirrabara, Appila, Booleroo Centre, Melrose, Port Germein, Wilmington, Murray Town, Redhill and Koolunga. The service joined up 300 people and carried out 800 loans in the first month. By July 1982 the overwhelming success of the service led to discussions with other Councils for the Mobile Library to be extended into their Council areas. It was also recommended that a Board of Management be set up containing members from each Council area to oversee the service. A new timetable was released in December of 1982 which included the following towns; Narridy, Yacka, Georgetown, Gulnare, Wirrabara, Gladstone, Booleroo Centre, Melrose, Appila, Laura, Port Germein, Wilmington, Murray Town, Redhill and Koolunga. The Library Board met for the first time in February 1983 to decide if the service would continue and if so, in what form. In October 1983 the Mobile Library’s base was moved from Port Pirie to Gladstone to reduce travelling time and therefore allow for more time at each town. With the move, the Flinders Mobile Library Board took over responsibility for the management of the library from the Port Pirie Corporation. By 1985 the towns visited by the library were; Narridy, Georgetown, Wilmington, Melrose, Gulnare, Spalding, Booleroo Centre, Murray Town, Port Germein, Laura, Gladstone, Appila, Wirrabara, Redhill, Koolunga and Yacka. In 1990 the library truck was painted, under the direction of artist Siv Grava, assisted by members of the general community. The receipt of a special Community Projects grant from the Public Libraries Division enabled the mural painting to be undertaken. By the early 2000’s the library was offering services to towns within the Council Districts of Mount Remarkable, Northern Areas and Port Pirie. The towns covered were; Gladstone, Laura, Appila, Wirrabara, Stone Hut, Redhill, Koolunga, Yacka, Port Germein, Georgetown, Melrose, Wilmington, Gulnare, Spalding, Booleroo Centre, and Murray Town. The service now also included visits to the Primary Schools in Gladstone, Laura, Wirrabara, Koolunga, Port Germein, Georgetown, Melrose, Wilmington, Spalding and the Booleroo District School. Each of these towns and schools were visited fortnightly throughout the year. By this time the painted library truck was nearing the end of its lifespan. The Flinders Mobile Library Board, in consultation with the constituent Councils approved the purchase of a new library vehicle. This process took most of 2003 and resulted in the new library truck coming into service in July 2004. The new library truck provided a safer and more comfortable environment for patrons and staff. An important new feature was the inclusion of a wheelchair lifter to provide access to all of our community members. The new service also provided internet access to patrons for the first time. The current schedule for 2013 is as follows: Towns we visit once a fortnight: Laura (Tuesday 12.45pm - 4.15pm) Gladstone (Wednesday 1.15pm - 4.30pm) Port Germein (Thursday 10.15am - 12.30pm) Napperby (Thursday 1.45pm - 4pm) Booleroo Centre (Friday 1pm - 4pm) Wilmington (Tuesday 12.45pm - 2.15pm) Melrose (Tuesday 3pm - 5pm) Gulnare (Wednesday 10.45am - 11.30am) Spalding (Wednesday 12noon - 1pm) Georgetown (Wednesday 3.15pm-4.15pm) Wirrabara (Thursday 10.15am - 11.45am) Murray Town (Thursday 12.45am - 1.30pm) Appila (Thursday 2.30pm - 3.30pm) Redhill (Friday 9.30am - 11am) Koolunga (Thursday 12.45pm - 1.45pm) Yacka (Friday 2.30pm - 3.45pm)