Suffolk’s newest mobile library wins “State of the Art” award
at this year’s Mobilemeet
Orwell 2 Mobile Library won the "State of the Art" trophy
(awarded to the mobile library that shows the best use of modern
technology) which was presented by East Anglian author, Sue
Welfare. Suffolk also joint runners up for the "Delegates' Choice"
- delegates vote for the vehicle they would most like to take
home!”
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Sue Welfare presenting the award to Elisabeth Harrison, Andrew
Little and John Sherwood |
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The Speakers at the event:
John Pateman, Mark Bryant, Graham Gatehouse (Director of
Adult and Communities), Kester Clarke
and Pete Maher
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Easy Rider...or should it be Easy Reader
as Britain’s mobile libraries descend on Suffolk
On Saturday a convoy of mobile libraries from across the
country travelled to Suffolk. Mobilemeet, the annual national
mobile library convention was held for the first time in the
county.
What: Reaching the People: Mobilemeet
2009
Date/time: Saturday 9 May, 9.00am - 4.00pm
Venue: Thurston Community College, Norton Road,
Thurston, IP31 3PB
Event: first time the annual Mobilemeet has been
hosted by Suffolk
The Mobilemeet is organised by the CILIP (Chartered Institute of
Library and Information Professionals) Branch and Mobile Libraries
Group. It is held somewhere different each year and this is
the first time Suffolk has been the host. Councils around the
country (and sometimes further afield!) send their latest mobile
libraries for colleagues to admire and learn from – and hope they
will win an award.
Welcoming Britain’s mobile libraries to Suffolk, Suffolk County
Council’s director of adult and community services, Graham
Gatehouse said:
“This is a wonderful chance to see all these mobile libraries
in one place and I am delighted that Suffolk is hosting the
Mobilemeet for the first time this year. The theme of the day
is community engagement, something which is a priority for us here
in Suffolk; our mobile libraries are a lifeline for rural villages
and for those people who can’t reach their local branch library.
Mobile libraries serve our local communities, and it is key
to their success that the people who use them can contribute to and
influence what they get from the service they use. Mobile
libraries are in a unique position to do this and to reach people
in the heart of their communities by taking the service to their
front door.”
Speakers this year gave a view from both the United Kingdom
and Australia on what skills are needed to engage with all
community members. The mobilemeet also offers a unique
opportunity to view first hand the latest in library technology and
service development in a working environment. Sue Welfare,
East Anglian novelist and playwright gave the keynote address
before this year’s awards were announced.
Suffolk Mobile Facts
Suffolk has a fleet of 6 mobile libraries covering over 330
parishes and towns in Suffolk. Attending the Mobilemeet from
Suffolk were county’s two latest public service mobile libraries;
Coastal and Orwell2, as well as the Bury area Schools Library
Service mobile.
Chassis Cab DAF and SIS Link (formerly Fatpipe - satellite dish
suppliers) provided sponsorship to fund hosting the
event.