Caithness.org News Index

Front Page Archives

Libraries In Caithness

NEW MOBILES FOR HIGHLAND LIBRARIES
This week Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service receives delivery of the first of four new mobile libraries that will soon be serving the communities of Nairn, Lochcarron, Invergordon and
Caithness areas.

Caithness Area Mobile Library Assistant/Driver Pat Message inspects the new Highland mobile library with Councillor
Drew Miller, Vice Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee and Highland Council's Life Long Learning Manager, Christopher Phillips.

These specially commissioned mobiles have been designed largely by Highland Libraries' knowledgeable and experienced mobile library drivers and were built by Nu-track of Northern Ireland, on Mercedes chassis.

The purpose-built vehicles will replace existing mobiles that have serviced the communities of Nairn, Lochcarron, Invergordon and Caithness for over ten years covering many hundreds of thousands of miles. During this period, the retiring vans will have issued approximately 1.6million items and served nearly 2,000 people on a regular basis each year.

Councillor Drew Miller, Vice Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "I am delighted that we are investing in the front-line delivery of our library service. These four new mobile libraries are part of a fleet of twelve vans which issue
almost double the number of items to their users than the Council's built libraries do in any one year. This clearly shows how much they are valued by people in the more rural parts of the Highlands."

Over the last two years the Council's mobile drivers have been encouraged to comment on and make suggestions for the new mobiles
incorporating suggestions from their customers who are extremely loyal to 'their van'.

The new mobiles have everything for both driver and reader requirements including the kitchen sink. Features included in the vans include acutely angled shelves to stop books falling off on the twisting Highland roads, laptop computers, improved lighting, and safety
reversing cameras, wipe clean walls, several heaters, microwaves and lifts to enable wheelchair-bound or partially ambulant users to get on board.

Willie MacPherson, Highland Council's Fleet and Maintenance Manager said: "With this vastly enhanced and robust design, accessibility to
components for servicing and repair is much improved. This will assist in turning vehicle maintenance around quickly keeping downtime to the minimum for our library users."

Highland Council's Life Long Learning Manager, Christopher Phillips said: "I am very impressed with the workmanship and sound engineering of our new libraries. They will be very welcome within their communities."