More expensive. Less equitable. No money for Australian authors.
A quick glance around the shelves of Port Phillip’s libraries will reveal an uninviting collection of tired, tatty, grubby books. Port Phillip has the oldest collection of printed books (physical items) of any Victorian municipal library service.
According to the figures it submits to the in-depth Public Library Victoria Annual Statistical Survey, over 56% of its collection is over five years old. But, Port Phillip council officers prefer to quote the figures they submit to the less comprehensive Local Government Victoria Performance Reporting Framework. In these figures print books are combined with e-books and surprise, surprise, it knocks years off the figures. They come down to 49.18% over five years old.
Now, e-books have benefits but…. libraries do not own e-books. They subscribe to them by buying a licence for either a number of loans or a length of time. When the licence expires, a new licence has to be bought*. The cost per loan for a fiction e-book is 31% higher than the cost per loan for a fiction print book*. Australian authors receive a royalty for library print books through the federal government's Public Lending Right scheme. They receive nothing from library e-books*.
Over 50% of e-book sales are in the adult romance, detective, and fiction categories. For most students, print is the most effective and inclusive way to learn and to retain knowledge long-term, and at a time of declining levels of literacy in Australia, why on earth is Port Phillip spending so much on e-books rather than investing in a better print book collection?
Similar councils such as Hobsons Bay and Stonnington have 67.33% and 82.98% of their library collection less than 5 years old^. 
*Source: Sue Mc Kerracher, CEO of the Australian Libraries and Information Association, ABC Radio National Rear Vision, 24 October 2021.
^ Source: https://knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au/compare-councils?service_area_key=libraries&primary=15341&councils=16573&councils=16793
Work on the new St Kilda Pier will begin soon with the appointment of the lead construction partner following a two-stage public tender process. Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne, announced on 17 November that Simpson Constructions would construct the $53 million St Kilda Pier Redevelopment project.
Construction alongside the existing St Kilda Pier is scheduled to start in early 2022, with the new pier due to be completed by early 2024. Parks Victoria in partnership with the Department of Transport is delivering the rebuild of the St Kilda Pier.
The new pier will feature public access for the community and visitors out onto the bay, improved views of St Kilda and the city skyline, better protection and viewing area for the Little Penguins, a wider disability compliant walkway, new toilets, tiered seating and preservation of the precinct’s heritage features. The pier will be constructed from concrete and timber and extend about 450 metres with a 50-year design life.
What impacts will there be on the pier’s Little Penguin colony?
St Kilda Pier breakwater is home to a colony of nearly 1,300 Little Penguins. A new viewing platform will be constructed (see image below) to improve penguin viewing and provide penguins with more protection. The platform is being designed to ensure that penguins can move freely without the current intrusions of humans. According to Parks Victoria works closely with Earthcare St Kilda to monitor and care for the penguin colony during construction, and penguin safety is the highest priority during construction. 
