A mobile book club called Old Grumpy's Gallery has offered to fill the gap left if the Tauranga City Council goes against public outcry and axes the mobile library.

Old Grumpy's Robert Ricketts said that although he was offering a paid service, he could "sweeten the option" by waiving 50 per cent of the membership fee for the first 1000 members, saving $10 per person.

He suggested the council could pay the other $10,000, allowing free membership.