The council is turning the page in its plans for the six Waitaki district libraries.
Last week, the Waitaki District Council in a statement announced "a new chapter" with plans under its "transformation" to shift the Oamaru Library away from the traditional idea of just providing library services.
Under the well-signalled transformation process, district libraries will be "community hubs" where "customers" can find services such as dog registration and rates.
Arts, culture and libraries manager Chloe Searle said it would start next year.
"There’ll be no change to the services offered by the library presently, but some additional services that were usually at our council headquarters service desk will be available in the library; rates queries, submitting forms and making requests," Ms Searle said.
Retired Waitaki librarian Glenys Robinson, who spearheaded a petition by Leave Our Libraries Alone (Lola), has been vocal in opposition to the change.
Responding to the Lola petition, council chief executive Alex Parmley said the "enhancements" were to improve "convenience and accessibility" without diminishing the core library functions.
However, Ms Robinson told the Oamaru Mail library users were not "customers".
She also said trained librarians should not be considered "customer service operators" and the library should not be a place of "commerce".
Ms Robinson said while the idea of adding services "sounds lovely" it raised issues with use of the library space and how best to use trained library staff.
"If you wanted to book a building inspector, do you just pop into the library and they’ll go online and do it for you?
"I have no idea, and it hasn’t been made clear. So that’s part of the problem, the lack of clarity about what’s going to happen, who’s going to be where and who is doing what," Ms Robinson said.
A key issue was how staff would be able to deal with sometimes those unhappy with council services.
"Will library staff have to deal with angry people who might be coming in upset about their rates or dog registration fees?"
The Lola petition also outlined concern about the future of the current Omarama, Otematata and Hampden libraries.
Mr Parmley has previously said three hubs will operate in Palmerston, Oamaru and a yet-to-be determined "Waitaki Valley location".
Ms Robins said those plans did not clearly define the future of the other libraries.
Cr Jim Hopkins said the transformation was a big change and "does not suit everyone".
A shift in the concept of how libraries provided people with information underpinned transformation.
It would provide additional staff training in the council’s "reimagining" of the way it offered services.
Ms Searle said new online service platforms would be launched in the ongoing transformation — meaning council services could also be accessed digitally, including via cellphone apps.
The library would also be introducing electronic checkout for library material next year.
"It’s part of the technological overhaul that is an important part of transformation."
