Councillors voted on Tuesday night to cease using the service and to instead investigate outreach library services.

Riverina Regional Library had indicated it would stop operating the service in Indigo and Towong shires, giving the councils the option to run the services themselves.

A report before Indigo councillors noted the service, which had 371 members in the shire last September, would cost ratepayers about $58,500 to run each year which Cr Peter Croucher said was too high.

Mayor Bernard Gaffney said the council would look at other options, including pop-up libraries, for the affected towns.

“We believe Riverina Regional Library will not be offering the service as it is today,” he said.

“We’ve got to look at other options.

“The purpose of the review is to maintain a service to the satisfaction of our community.

“It will in no way be a cost cutting exercise.”

Riverina Regional Library had run the service since July 2013.

The Indigo report noted Towong Shire was also unlikely to continue the service.

A new library opened in Yackandandah last November and a relocated Beechworth Library is expected to open for extended hours at the end of the year.

Cr Croucher said while it was “pretty difficult” to see the service stop, “it’s probably a sign of the times that it’s going”.

“I’m fairly disappointed that it will close,” he said.

“I’m hoping we will continue to get services throughout the shire.

“There are services known as outreach services, which are ... a whole range of different services — that we will look at.”

A report on the possible replacement services will be submitted to the council in June.