Why doesn’t the library stop here? (From Cotswold Journal)
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Why doesn’t the library stop here?
3:00pm Saturday 16th February 2013 in News
WHAT, NO BOOKS? Carlin Anderson, Liz Ludbrook, Anthony Arthurs and Georgia Larden, Harry Keighley and Iyla Withers, standing where the mobile library used to stop.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council recently launched its new mobile library service – but some people are unhappy that it doesn’t stop in their area.
The new arrangement, which was introduced in December last year, is designed to give people in rural areas of the county a range of services, including books, information and access to the internet.
There are now 56 mobile stops across the county, including Mickleton, Blockley and Bledington, where the bus stops for two hours once a month.
But Bourton-on-the-Hill resident Carlin Anderson is unhappy that the bus does not stop in her village, despite it being on its route.
“To me this doesn’t make sense,” said the 58-year-old. “The mobile library is going through our village. I can’t understand why it can’t stop. I can’t see it will cost them any more.
“I think they are being very blinkered about it. When I asked for them to stop they came up with no good reason. Because I work, I can’t get to Moreton library during opening hours.”
Before the changes were introduced, the village used to have a mobile library service which stopped once a month for 15 minutes, something Mrs Anderson is keen to see restored.
She said: “There are no facilities in the village. They refuse to even consider the mobile library stopping for 10 or 15 minutes.”
GCC said the new mobile arrangement was introduced following an extensive consultation with all customers of the county’s previous mobile service.
It said in the new system, stops are longer, so that people can use internet access and find out more about partner agencies.
The short 10-minute stops were often not attended.
Sue Laurence, library services manager, said: “Despite living about two miles from a library on a regular bus route, we understand Mrs Anderson has difficulty accessing library services as a result of her job. A library manager has recently spoken to Mrs Anderson to discuss what support she needs and some ideas are being explored.”
For a timetable of stops, visit gloucestershire.gov.uk/article/ 111348/new-mobile-timetables.
