Revisiting mobile routes

Currently Worcestershire operates five mobile libraries across the county. Visits vary according to the needs of the local community .

There has been a national decline in usage although the council understands that the mobile libraries are an important service.

The recent review has looked at making savings and one strong recommendation is to look at the service and the way it is delivered. The review has suggested removing one or two mobile libraries from the service.

With the removal of one mobile library there would not be a loss of service, just a rearrangement of routes to ensure the vehicles run most efficiently, do not duplicate stops or call at stops with no attendance. The Library Service at Home vehicle, which takes books and audiovisual items to housebound residents, is another service that the council could maximise by rearranging routes in an effort to increase stops and visits to local areas.

The council also runs a Comput@bus and this vehicle could increase its role or function. The Comput@bus currently takes PCs and tuition to groups and individuals across the county.

The removal of two mobile libraries would have a more significant impact and mean that some stops would not be visited, or at least not as frequently. The service priorities would need to be re-thought; for example, the criteria set for the mobile library could mean serving only rural areas or suburban estates with particular needs. These stops could be no longer than the current 15 or 20 minutes and might include stops in the evening or at the weekends.

What we want to know

1. What is it about the current mobile library service that works well?
2. What does not work well?
3. What alternative options are there for delivering the library service?