The Isle of Wight Council has revealed plans to potentially cut the mobile library service by around a third.
At present the Mobile Library Service visits 77 stops on the Isle of Wight. Proposals being consulted on from today reveal plans to reduce that to 53.
The least used stops would be the focus of the cuts, with the frequency of the visits also reducing from three-weekly to four-weekly.
Executive member responsible for libraries, Councillor Shirley Smart, said:
“It is with great regret that the council’s financial position has meant this proposed reduction in the number of locations visited by the service. However, unlike other parts of the country we remain determined to continue the service, and to do so as best we can within our limited resources.”
650 residents used the service in 2015
The council say a total of 650 residents borrowed items from the Mobile Library Service across the Island in 2015.
The go on to say that 32 regular customers will be affected by the scrapping of 24 stops.
The following options are being suggested to them as alternatives:
- encouraging use of their nearest alternative mobile stop, if possible;
- encouraging use of branch or community libraries;
- encouraging use of online services (eg e-books, e-audio books);
- apply to be taken on by the Home Library Service if any of the other first three options are not viable.
The changes to the service would save £23,500 per annum, the equivalent of one full-time post.
Image: Adrian Short under CC BY 2.0
