Yesterday Mount Isa Mayor John Molony said the announcement follows a lengthy and difficult search for a new library service, after the main library in West Street was forced to close due to flooding from severe storms in October last year.

He said council is in negotiations on three prospective buildings to achieve a long-term temporary library solution given the significant damage to the West Street building.

"We understand that the community has been waiting some time for this service, and we appreciate their patience - but we had to make sure that we investigated all the options before locking anything into place.

"At the end of the day, any funds which council spends to offer this service come from our ratepayers ? and they have the right to expect that we do things properly and efficiently."

Cr Molony said the temporary service would offer a basic range of library features out of the Corporate Box at Buchanan Park.

These features include newly released/purchased: books-fiction, non-fiction, junior and teen genres ; and audio visual material, including DVDs and CDs.

He said some items from the existing collection will also be available.

Mayor Molony said: "Our council has explored every opportunity to offer the best and most extensive service to the people of Mount Isa, we have worked with local property owners and real estate agents to identify possible venues to house the library.

"Whilst this temporary library may only offer the most popular services for the time being, we have identified an alternative larger facility and are working steadily towards offering a broader range of services in the near future. I look forward to being able to make a formal announcement of the location of the long-term temporary library facility in the coming weeks.

"The Mount Isa City Council is working closely with the State Library of Queensland to coordinate and establish both the Buchanan Park short-term library, as well as the long-term library. The Queensland Government, through the State Library of Queensland is assisting with expertise and advice, having sent two of its staff to Mount Isa to be heavily involved and also providing much needed funds to support the efforts."