Your Library

The Vehicle

As it takes its cargo of books to sunbathers, paddlers and beach walkers, our all terrain wheelbarrow skims along the sand like a jet powered hovercraft . It is orange and is decked out with flags, bells and a horn. You won't be able to miss it!
 

What's on Offer

Beach goers of all persuasions are invited to rummage through our barrow and select a book to read while they enjoy the beautiful summer weather on the City of Port Phillip's foreshore.

The wheelbarrow collection includes crime novels, romance, Victorian gothic, sci-fi, history, travel books and capital 'L' Literary fiction. The barrow even has picture books for the beach kids.
 

How it Works

The best news is we don't need the books back. When they're finished, we're simply asking readers to pass them on to another reader or a suitable home.

All the books given out on the beach include a sticker saying: ¿This book began its journey in a wheelbarrow library on a beach in Melbourne as part of the Port Phillip Library Service. It wants to travel - so please read, enjoy and pass on.¿ The sticker provides room for future readers to add their names and locations, so the books travel history can be traced.

Why!?

As the library continues to update its collection with glorious new books we also need to make room for them by removing  some of the older stock. This is part of the normal life-cycle of any library collection. The beach library service is a great way for us to pass on books no longer needed in the collection but still with a lot of joy to offer readers.

It's fun for us to head down to the beach with our wheelbarrow and its exciting for the beach goer to find a little gem of a read as they enjoy the beach.

The wheelbarrow library also offers us a great way to spread the word about the Port Phillip Libraries and all the great services we offer.

When?

As long as its a warm and sunny day, and we have the staff available, there will be a couple of us down at the beach pushing the barrow and giving away books. If you're down at one of the City of Port Phillip's beaches, just keep an eye out for our bright orange craft! 

City of Port Phillip's library customer support worker Nick Whittock will spend summer handing out books to 'bikini babes' ... and blokes too.

The service aims to provide books to beachgoers between St Kilda and Port Melbourne.

On sunny days Mr. Whittock will hit the beach with 'his' wheelbarrow and people will be invited to take whatever they would like to read.

The bonus is the books do not need to be returned. The library is simply asking for them to be passed on to someone else who might enjoy them."

and no, don't just look for Nick!! Keep an eye out for the barrow - it could be 'driven' by any one of the wonderful library workers!

View our Wheelbarrow Library in action on our flickr wheelbarrow library set