Library van returns to the road for ‘grand tour’

THE MOBILE Shetland library van is set to head out on a “grand tour” of the Shetland mainland next week.

The van will stop at Bigton, Hoswick, Scalloway, Walls and Ollaberry on Wednesday (18 November) for people to visit, borrow books, take part in a prize draw and get free copies of this year’s Book Week Scotland paperback.

It comes in celebration of Mobile Libraries Day.

The mobile library van has been off the road since lockdown in March, but deliveries have still been taking place with another vehicle.

Support services librarian Catherine Jeromson said: “Since lockdown, we’ve been offering an alternative home delivery service to folks’ doors with our peerie van, and there’s still an ongoing need for this. We’re sure that folk have missed the sight of the mobile library van too.

“We aren’t able to return to normal duties with the mobile library yet but we are looking at how to use it more, as restrictions allow.

“This is the first of what we hope will be more chances to get the mobile library out and about, and perhaps folk who don’t normally get a chance to use it will be able to visit.”

In 2019/20, the mobile library issued 20,617 books. Between May and October this year staff delivered 10,576 books via the current home delivery system.

There are nearly 400 customers registered for deliveries or the library van.

The stops and times for the Shetland Library van on 18 November are as follows:

South Mainland 

• Bigton Shop, 8.45am—9.30am
• Hoswick Visitor Centre, 10am—10.45am

Central

• Scalloway Youth Centre, 11.15am—12.00 noon

West Mainland

• Walls Hall, 1pm—1.45pm

North Mainland

• Ollaberry Hall, 3pm—4pm