Whanganui brothers launch bid to save library bus

Riley Young wants the Whanganui District Council to retain its mobile library. Photo / Bevan Conley

Two primary school-aged brothers hope to convince councillors to save Whanganui's library bus.

Whanganui District Council is proposing to scrap the bus in favour of two vans and satellite library hubs in suburbs around the city.

But 6-year-old Riley Young and 8-year-old brother Mitchell want the bus version of the mobile library, which often visits at the River Traders' Market, to stay.

The pair have lodged a written submission to the council's long-term plan and will speak to councillors when they hear oral submissions next month.

The draft plan says the mobile library "is at the end of its useful life" and proposes to replace it with two vans at a lower cost.

It also plans to set up four self-service suburban library hubs "which will enable us to deliver a service locally in a cost-effective manner".

The first is planned for Castlecliff in the next year with Whanganui East, Aramoho and
Springvale also being considered.

Each hub would cost $50,000 to set up and the "modest operating costs will be met from the library's existing budget".

But rather than scrapping the city's sole library bus, Riley's submission suggests the council run two.

"It can drive different places but a normal library can't," Riley said.

"That's where all the books are that I can find easier."

Riley has been a fan of Pokemon books and book on reptiles.

"I think they're really cool."

Others have jumped on board the campaign.

Sarah McGrail from Little Vintage Hair Boutique in Whanganui East has started a petition in her shop and others around the suburb's shopping centre to save the bus.

She said the bus was too important to some people and that the mobile library attended all sorts of events that fixed hubs wouldn't be able to.

"It has an atmosphere that allows people to sit, read and converse with each other," she said.

"It's a social outing for a lot of people that don't see people."