These were some library books I had from the mobile library earlier this year. Yesterday he called (having missed a month because the van had to go in for MoT.) I was about to go and have a look around the crime novels when he stopped me and pointed to a printed sheet, explaining that - as forewarned when users of the mobile library had the chance to fill out a form on using the mobile library - the Council had decided to give a three month trial where the van would no longer call at houses, but the service would be changed to one which stopped for two hours in a nearby village so that people could use the computers which are going to be fitted, charge their mobile phones (do they honestly think we don't have blardy electricity in our homes?!) and perhaps change books - every week, instead of a monthly visit. I would have a choice of driving up to Llanfynydd, down to Nantgaredig, or possibly up the valley to Brechfa. Having written a lengthy epistle on the forms they had provided last autumn, saying that this was the thin end of the wedge and I expected that people would no longer bother with the service once it became inconvenient (for all but those living in the villages where the van parked up), the Council would soon announce that the service would be completely terminated because no-one wanted to use it. . . I think you would call it a self-fulfilling prophecy. I will let you know the outcome, but the Librarian said that (like me) everyone was just handing their books in and not intending to go to the nearest village in future.
Fortunately I have a pile and a half of books to work my way through, and plenty more on my bookshelves, but I will miss taking out recipe books, novels I've not come across before and what have you, at my convenience. What is the situation in the area you live in?
I fought to retain our mobile library van visits. I would get books out for several other villagers, as well as my own. I filled in forms, wrote letters, drummed up more support in the village... to no avail. I won't get on my soapbox, but these cuts to library services make me very grumpy. I'm sorry that you seem to have lost the battle, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine. Yes, you can see it writ large, what their plans are. They are not going to listen to us folk who actually USE the service. Oh no!
DeleteI'm pretty sure that we shall lose our mobile library soon; from stopping at 4 different places for 45 minutes at a time, it is now stopping at just one spot - for 20 minutes. 20 minutes!!! How on earth can people from this village and the two neighboring ones choose a selection of library books in 20 minutes? So numbers of users have dropped drastically (myself included) and the mobile library will soon be no more 'because of lack of support'.
ReplyDeleteOh, ours will be in the new designated village stops for 2 hours each week (so folk can charge their mobile phones of course!!!) We can all see the writing on the wall but however hard we fight, they have made up their minds already . . .
DeleteOur nearest mobile stop - 15 minutes once in 4 weeks - is now nearly 2 miles away. Nearest library - 16 hours a week spread over 4 days - is just under 4 miles.But we tend to order every thing on line and just collect anyway so will stick to the mobile at present especially as there are no fines for 8 weeks compared to 3 weeks at a branch. At least I'm not the only borrower - one other lady here. I was the only person where we lived before.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope your mobile service keeps on going. I can (and will have to) manage without - I can hardly say I have a shortage of books to read, but that's not the point. My books are different to the ones on offer at the library!
DeleteYet another punishment forced on councils by the government, sadly. I seriously wonder if any of them have read a book by choice.
ReplyDeleteThe bookmobile service stopped about 30 years ago here. Now it's find your way to a library.
ReplyDeleteOur county library has hours at least 5 days per week. They struggle with a lack of funding, but do provide some children's programs and a book discussion group. Many of the books on offer are 'series' by authors attempting to depict the Amish lifestyle in a very sugar-coated and moralistic manner--then there are shelves of old 'Westerns.' They have a nice small section devoted to Kentucky authors. I stopped there only occasionally and now that we are the far east side of the county I've not been by in several years.
ReplyDeleteDid I read this right, your mobile library stops at your house ?
ReplyDeleteOMG !
Our always used to stop at a street corner and we would walk or drive to it.
cheers, parsnip