A far-reaching study into the future shape of Tauranga's city libraries has recommended the need to achieve a balance between the decline in printed books and magazines and the increase in online digital material.
Tauranga City Council meets today to decide on four options, with the community hub option recommendedfor approval by library services manager Jill Best and community services acting manager Margaret Batchelar.
The community hub model sees libraries as "a platform for learning, inspiration, innovation and connection" but with modest new investments.
It puts greater focus on libraries for learning and community participation, including the importance to retain an emphasis on local history.
The community hub model recognizes the need to be relevant in the digital knowledge age and that "digital sources of information and reading will sit alongside print".
