It’s the news that readers in more rural parts of the Highlands have been waiting for – the first of two mobile libraries will be hitting the road within a matter of months.
The first of two chassis has arrived in Scotland and is now undergoing its fit out at Cebotec in Falkirk, which is expected to take two to three months. The second chassis will follow within the next few weeks from Italy.
It means that the new mobile libraries should be seen on Highland roads later this winter.
The Highland Council has spent £332,000 on purchasing the two new vehicles – including conversion works and signwriting, etc. They will be deployed in the north and west where a temporary delivery service has been in operation.
Mobile libraries are a crucial part of community life throughout the Highlands, but an aging fleet has made mobile library provision challenging for some time. The Highland Council and High Life Highland work in collaboration to provide the mobile library service with The Council providing and maintaining the vehicles and High Life Highland operating the service.
Julie Corcoran Head of Libraries at High Life Highland said: “We know that these developments will be much welcomed news for all our rural customers who depend on this essential service. Communities have been waiting patiently for the arrival of the new vehicles and High Life Highland is looking forward to re-instating a walk-on mobile library service at the earliest possible time”
Chair of Highland Council’s Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson said: “The arrival of our bespoke library vans is very much welcomed, and the Council is actively working to expedite the fit-out process to ensure the vehicles are ready for the road and to service our rural communities as soon as possible.”
