MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has secured state government funding to install outdoor library lockers across the peninsula and is asking residents to help shape how and where they will be used.
The lockers will allow library members to collect reserved items and return borrowed materials 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without needing to visit a branch during staffed hours. Each locker includes a return chute for easy drop-off and is secure, weather-protected and remotely managed by library staff.
The service works in a similar way to Australia Post parcel lockers. Staff load a reserved item into an assigned locker and notify the patron when it is ready. The patron then uses their library card to access the locker at a time that suits them.
Acting mayor Paul Pingiaro said the lockers would extend library services beyond traditional opening hours.
“They offer greater flexibility for people with busy schedules or those who live further from a library branch,” said Pingiaro.
Council says the technology is designed to take library services further into the community, particularly for people who face challenges related to distance, mobility or time.
The shire is seeking community feedback to help shape the service, wanting to know how often people are likely to use the lockers and at what times, what types of materials they want to access, and where future lockers should be located, including which towns or community hubs would benefit most from improved access.
Residents have until 16 June to complete a short survey at shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/library-lockers-consultation.
First published in the Mornington News – 26 May 2026
