However, Dunedin City Council library services manager Bernie Hawke has defended the initiatives, saying he is just following national and international trends in library use.
The plans were included in Mr Hawke's regular library activity report, presented to the council's community development committee yesterday.
The new performance space, and possibly a new coffee bar, would be constructed as part of a ground-floor redevelopment project planned for the library.
In addition, a series of live events were planned for the library next month, as part of New Zealand Music Month.
However, Cr Kate Wilson questioned whether "normal" library users, those seeking quiet reading space, would be adversely affected by the potentially noisy additions.
It was a complaint often raised at the council's regular public forum meetings, she said.
Mr Hawke acknowledged live music could "disturb" other library users, but argued the trend over the last 10-15 years was for libraries to be "more than books".
"We have tried to expand our range of activities and services beyond just that core," he said.
"We think it's fitting and appropriate with the current use and trend of libraries."
Library staff received "very, very few complaints", and there were still quiet spaces within the building for those wanting to escape noise, he said.
"I'm comfortable we are managing that balance," he said.
Plans for a coffee bar were still being explored, but the development would mirror what was happening in other centres, and meet "pretty constant" requests from Dunedin library users.
"It's just part of a wider trend we are seeking to respond to."
Library management would be seeking expressions of interest from existing city cafes for running the new service, if it proceeded, he said.
