East
Lothian Council is introducing changes to the mobile library service from April
2014. Currently the mobile service operates from two vehicles but one of the
vans has reached the end of its operational life which has given the library
service an opportunity to review the service as a whole.
Cabinet member for Community Wellbeing, Cllr Tim Day, said:
“This is a unique situation which has arisen from the end of viability of one
of the vans. The current cost of providing the mobile library service is
£133,000 per annum and as the Library Service, in common with all Council
Departments is required to make substantial savings as part of a three year
budget process, this has resulted in the service as a whole being reviewed.”
“Whilst we recognise the changes may cause some users
disappointment, the new service will be a mainly village based service
determined by the present usage levels. We are also providing schools who
currently use the mobile service with alternatives to ensure resources continue
to be available.”
“These changes also recognise that many people choose to
visit branch libraries when visiting local towns when shopping, going to the
doctor, bank etc. East Lothian has an excellent network of branch libraries
with four of the town libraries refurbished, extended or relocated within the
past two years. Opening hours have also been improved across some libraries
with Haddington Library in the John Gray Centre now open 7 days.”
The changes will mean that the mobile service will no longer
visit some primary schools as part of the school day but the mobile library
will be in some villages after school hours so that parents and children can
access the service together. In addition the Library Service is advising
affected schools of the School Library Service which provides both fiction boxes and project boxes to ensure that teachers and pupils have necessary material.
In line with public demand the library service has also expanded its services which are available electronically including on-line reference resources, e-audio books and e-magazines all available free to library members.