Waveney villages now have mobile library with satellite
dish
The Waveney Mobile library is the third mobile library in the
county to be fitted with a satellite dish which means library users
can now access the library catalogue and use the internet live.
County councillor Graham
Newman, portfolio holder for Adult and Community Services, met
users of the mobile library at the Suffolk Punch, Westwood
Avenue, Lowestoft on the morning of Thursday 8 May.
The Waveney Mobile library visits here fortnightly on Thursdays:
in the morning from 9.45am - 12.30pm and in the afternoon between
3.05 and 4.30pm, and has a total of 60 users. Both stops are new
style community stops enabling community activities and full online
use of internet and the library catalogue.
On this occasion, users were able to talk to Natalie
Morley from Suffolk Roadsafe's GrandDriver project which aims
to help mature drivers to continue to drive safely as they grow
older. As part of this scheme, Suffolk County Council's road safety
team offers free refresher workshops with experienced Approved
Driving Instructors to older drivers in Suffolk. For more
information, see www.suffolkroadsafe.net
Councillor Graham Newman said: "The mobile library service is
a vital link, for those who live outside town centres and
without easy access to a building-based library or for those who
can't get far from their home. Now that we have the satellite link,
we are hoping to encourage many more people to use the mobile
library service. We have had a very encouraging response to the
first three mobile libraries we've equipped in this way, so we're
looking to extend the service to more vehicles in future. The
GrandDriver scheme is a good example of how we can bring all sorts
of services closer to where people live, and so involve many more
local residents."
Two more new mobile libraries (replacing existing old vehicles)
have been ordered and will be fitted with satellite dishes before
joining the county council's fleet next year. Among the advantages
to mobile library users will be faster reservations and the ability
to access council information services via the internet.
New mobile library vehicle for Western Area
Councillor Graham Newman, portfolio holder for Adult and
Community Services, and Councillor Jane Midwood, member for the
Clare division, launched the new mobile library vehicle
and new revised routes for the mobile library service in the
village of Wickhambrook.
The new satellite-equipped vehicle will enable library users to
access the library catalogue and use the internet live. The stop at
Wickhambrook is a new, longer 'community stop' to allow more
activities based on the mobile library.
Councillor Graham Newman said: "I am so pleased that the new
vehicle is on the road, and that we have successfully developed new
routes to suit more people. The mobile library service can be a
vital link for some people in more rural areas without easy access
to towns, and those who are housebound. With the satellite link,
and more such vehicles to come, we hope to encourage many more
people to use the mobile library service."
Councillor Jane Midwood said: "The new technology and the
longer stop here in the village is a great chance for local people
to get much more out of the service. I certainly found, when I
spent a day with mobile library service, that these longer stops
would be very useful."
Thurday's stop included storytelling for children and adults by
Andy Jennings, tying in with the summer reading challenge, which is
available on mobile libraries for the first time in Suffolk.
The Schools Library Service mobile library is already out on the
road in the western part of the county taking books to schools as
part of the paid for service offered to schools. The vehicle,
replacing one from 1991, cost £100,000 and features a new livery
designed to appeal to
children.