Rotorua Lakes
Council’s mobile library users will receive a more personalised service in
future.
The bus which
was previously used has had to be decommissioned due to ongoing mechanical
issues and the district has been without the service for several months
while a replacement vehicle is found.
The bus will
be replaced with a van which will enable the service to reach more communities
and can be used in tandem with the new Mobile Learning Centre Te Waka
Pounamu that is already proving popular with young and old.
Purchase of a
replacement mobile library vehicle is being finalised, says Council’s Arts and
Culture Director Stewart Brown.
“Once we have a
vehicle we will be able to reinstate the service pretty quickly as the fit-out,
which is already being planned, isn’t expected to take too long.
“A feature of
the fit-out will be removable shelving. This will provide the option of
being able to take collections into schools, rest homes and community centres,
making the service more accessible and allowing for the stock to be selected
daily and personalised, based on where it’s going on any given day,” Mr Brown
says.
“We’ll be able
to provide a more flexible service which will complement our other outreach
library services like the service for people who are house-bound.”
The library
bus had been due for replacement for some time and the purchase of a
replacement vehicle, a van, was brought forward due to the bus needing to be
decommissioned earlier than expected.
Library
staff have been reviewing library outreach services, including the mobile
library service and working on a new service model. The new van will be
able to be used alongside Te Waka Pounamu to access communities the bus
wasn’t able to get to, such as Tarawera.
“The
smaller vehicle means all staff will be able to drive it as they won’t require
a heavy vehicle licence and it will be fitted with a mobility hoist,” Mr Brown
says.