A few years ago this small village was lucky enough to have a large mobile library van call, for 30 minutes, once a month. The large van was then replaced with what seemed to be a 'tiny' van.
I wrote about it on one of my earlier blogs (Pear Tree Log) way back in 2011, which is lucky, because I have been able to borrow some photographs. This one shows the 'tiny' van... it now seems enormous compared to what has been calling here for the last several months.
The big vans were wonderful, packed to the gunnels with books in a who range of genre. The staff were very helpful and friendly (they still are) and made sure that the shelves were regularly restocked, they were very easy-going about returns which was helpful.
Now, brace yourself, this is the current van...
The mobile library called today. Now this really is tiny, it is the size of a transit van.
Very few books, no room for more than a couple of browsers at a time, very claustrophobic. One elderly woman bravely tried it last month but had to be assisted out, she couldn't breathe, felt ill inside it, her husband left without getting any books either.
Today I was the only customer.
Shrink the van, shrink the number of users.
Perhaps that is their fiendish plan.
Perhaps this is their plan...
ReplyDeleteCould be...
"Everything" costs too much. Why not cut costs, with a tiny book mobile, to serve those "old folks"...? Grrrrrrrrrrr..... -sighhhhhh-
Surely not!!
DeleteOne of the village elders does have a very helpful library assistant call round once a month, with a selection of books. It has worked well for her, I am happy to say.
I can imagine how dispiriting this change must be. Does your main library possibly have a service to check out and bring books to homebound library patrons? That might be an option. Here we have a fairly new program called Little Free Libraries. Just regular citizens can put up a small enclosed box on their property and put in books that they no longer need or have gotten from book sales etc. Then anyone in the neighborhood is free to come take a book return it or replace it with a book that they no longer need or want. Here in this small town we have probably 10 or 12 of these little enterprises in various neighborhoods. The one closest to me has a continuing turnover of books and is a wonderful supplement to the library in the center of town. You can google littlefreelibraries.org and get information as to how it is set up. Something like this might work where you are.
ReplyDeleteHello Vic, That sounds like a really interesting project. We do have a table with free books/book exchange in the village hall. Unfortunately local support for the village hall has diminished, too! It sounds as though your little town is an awful lot livelier than our small village. We do our best to drum up support, but it always comes down to the same few people - and we are getting older and more jaded all the time. ;) I'll certainly google for some information. Thank you!
DeleteOh dear. I thought it was sad when we went from once a fortnight down to once a month but at least we still have a full sized van but actually I rarely look round it because all my books are requested on line and really he just delivers them so that might be the plan for your area. It seems strange to think that mobile library was once a two person job.
ReplyDeleteHello Sue, The last time the van called they said that the older van was being retired, today they sounded a slightly more cheerful note and said it could possibly be back on the road sometime. Fingers crossed. Not sure that some of the elderly people would be able to cope with coming up with a list of books - some of them really just want a small stack of Mills & Boon or a good murder mystery - and that is fair enough.
DeleteHello, Elaine (and Sue) ... I reckon you both, and myself, could open our own libraries the amount of books we have!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, that is a very small library van! Titchy, indeed! Next it will be a Mini Clubman, then a Fiat 500 ...
Margaret P
Hello Margaret, So true!
DeleteI was delighted to find that we were on the mobile library route and met many of the 'village elders' while we were on board, choosing books, or waiting for the van to arrive. Sadly, over the last 12 years, their numbers have diminished, but I feel that I still need to carry the banner, continue their battle.
Your lucky you have one, our council had done away with them though we have a village library which I don't use much. Shame really as there are other villages less fortunate
ReplyDeleteHello Bill, Goodness, lucky you! A village library! I am turning green with envy, although I'm guessing your village must be considerably bigger than this place; if I said there are 150 people in the village I believe that would be an exaggeration.
DeleteThink ours is upward of 3000 plus more with the new housing estates going up. More like small town now
DeleteIn our many moves over the years, the public library was one of the first places I located in a new town.
ReplyDeleteHere in Adair County, KY a central library serves the entire county--and we're on the far end from the location. I've noticed a small van on the road with a library logo--don't know much about it. I order books online from Amazon or Alibris. For those who are computer-challenged or have no extra funds for books, that wouldn't be a solution; also, sometimes we want to browse and bring home a title that looks interesting without the commitment to buying.
The 'bookmobile' which came round to my rural school was a delight--a large lumbering van. I'm sure the cost of fueling and maintaining the larger vehicles is prohibitive.
Hello MM, A woman after my own heart!
Delete