Mobile Libraries Day takes place on Wednesday 18th November, celebrating mobile library services across Scotland and the contribution they make to communities.
The mobile library van in Shetland has been off the road since lockdown in March but will return next Wednesday for a ‘grand tour’ of the mainland.
The van will stop at Bigton, Hoswick, Scalloway, Walls and Ollaberry for people to visit, borrow books, take part in a prize draw and get free copies of this year’s Book Week Scotland paperback.
Catherine Jeromson, Support Services Librarian said: “Since lockdown, we’ve been offering an alternative home delivery service to folks’ doors with our peerie van, and there’s still an ongoing need for this. We’re sure that folk have missed the sight of the mobile library van too. We aren’t able to return to normal duties with the mobile library yet but we are looking at how to use it more, as restrictions allow. This is the first of what we hope will be more chances to get the mobile library out and about, and perhaps folk who don’t normally get a chance to use it will be able to visit.”
In 2019/20, the mobile library issued 20,617 books. Between May and October this year staff delivered 10,576 books via the current home delivery system. There are 399 customers registered for deliveries or the library van.
Stops and times for the Shetland Library Van on Wednesday 18th November 2020:
South Mainland
Bigton Shop, 8.45—9.30am
Hoswick Visitor Centre, 10.00am—10.45am
Central
Scalloway Youth Centre, 11.15am—12.00noon
West Mainland
Walls Hall, 1.00—1.45pm
North Mainland
Ollaberry Hall, 3.00—4.00pm