Opportunities for Dunedin’s Mobile Library Service: An Emissions and Sustainability Perspective

Abstract

This project delves into the potential opportunities for Dunedin’s mobile library service, with a focus on emissions and social sustainability. The research is particularly significant for this community, as a comprehensive review of Dunedin's mobile library services and user transport behaviours has not been conducted previously. Employing a mixed-methods and community-based approach, this project involves surveys of current mobile library and city library users to understand their travel behaviours and assess interest in additional mobile library services. Interviews with mobile library managers around Aotearoa also provide insights into the diverse scope of mobile library and outreach services. Subsequent data analysis offers a range of recommendations tailored for the Dunedin City Council and Dunedin Public Libraries, serving as a valuable guide for their future decision-making processes, in line with the Zero Carbon Plan 2030. Beyond the local context, this project includes insights applicable to a broader spectrum of organizations, councils, and communities, contributing to the larger discourse on emissions reduction and sustainable practices. 

Supervised by: Craig Cliff, Ray O’Brien

Scholarship Project Funded by: Dunedin City Council