Trentham’s Ruth-Mary Love has been a patron of the Daylesford Library, currently located at Bridport Street, for 20 years, visiting every two to three days.

Ms Love said the “much-loved” facility was currently well-used and accessible, with a northerly aspect bringing in sunshine and boasting a quality children’s area.

“But we are now being offered something quite substantially inferior - and upstairs section of the Rex with its steep stairs to its entrance or the use of a tiny lift,” she said.

“Parking will be a problem as the Rex car park must service the whole building, council workers and alike, or if you are lucky then you may find one in Duke Street.

“This will pose problems with the elderly and the young mums with pushers and those of us that don’t like stairs.”

Ms Love was involved in a campaign to prevent the land belonging to the library being sold off back in the 1990s.

“I’m urging people, the community, to look at the space and give feedback to the council because that library is such a loved asset,” Ms Love said.

“They want to have this reduced space in The Rex.

“I don’t think it’s a very usable space – it’s so awkward. There is no quality when there’s no parking and you have to scramble up the stairs.”

Hepburn Shire Council CEO Aaron van Egmond said the majority of Daylesford’s community supported the library move.

“Council has received very strong support from the community regarding the proposed library location at The Rex,” he said.

“We believe that the central location of the library at The Rex will enhance the use of library services.

“The building will comply with accessibility standards, and the car parking at the rear will service both the Council customer service and library operations.”