Route changes for mobile library service

October 29, 2018 by Southend Borough Council

The council is operating a new route for its mobile library service in a bid to make the service more accessible for people in care homes. 

The current route mostly accommodates retirement complexes, many of whose residents live active lifestyles and are not home-bound. The new route will take in four additional care homes, enabling those who aren’t capable of visiting a static library the opportunity to borrow books, DVDs and other library resources.

The new route begins on 5 November and will continue to offer a direct, fortnightly library service.  The amended route now offers hour long time slots to accommodate for any potential delays.

The mobile library vehicle has now been replaced by Council transit vehicles. This allows for various vehicles to complete the route, as there have been issues in the past when a problem arises with the vehicle where service users were unable to receive their books on time. Changing to transit vehicles enables the council to have multiple vehicles ready at any given time. The new vehicles will be clearly advertised as the mobile library service.

Cllr Lesley Salter, cabinet member for healthy communities and wellbeing, said: “Our decision to operate a new route for the mobile library service reflects our desire to make it available to as many people as possible who would otherwise face difficulty accessing library services.  This will also enable us to reach more care and nursing homes, who can contact the Library service and ask to be added to the route.

“I look forward to hearing feedback from library service users.”

Any residents no longer on the route - but who currently have books on loan - can return them to the mobile library service on the week commencing 12 November, when a driver will be stopping off at the suspended locations to collect any outstanding books. These books can also be returned to static libraries if preferred.

Those living in a retirement complex that is no longer on the route can apply for the home library service, which offers a similar service run by volunteers. Those who wish to apply for the home library service, please call the Community Development team on 01702 534100 and ask about the service. 

To see a map of the new route, and for more information on the mobile library service, please visit www.southend.gov.uk/mobilelibrary