ANGUSalive’s mobile libraries Isla and Glen are returning this December after being parked up for eight months during the coronavirus pandemic.
The two mobile library vans, which were launched last summer, will be on the road again from next Monday 7 December providing the opportunity for Angus rural communities to connect once again with library services.
The new timetable for the library vans, which features dates up to April 2021, includes various stops around Angus such as Letham, Piperdam, Arbirlot, Tealing, Newbigging and Easthaven amongst others
Isla and Glen will provide a traditional book lending service as well as community information and a hearing aid battery supply service. There’s a wide range of stock on board for people of all ages to enjoy and both vans are fully accessible with disabled lift access. Customers can also collect books from the vans via the Click and Collect service.
As with all of ANGUSalive services available at present, the mobile library service will be COVID-19 secure and patrons will be asked to wear face coverings, use hand sanitiser gel, queue in a safe way and provide details for Test and Protect. All books will be quarantined for 72 hours before going back out into stock.
Residents are asked to return any books they have as extra resource has been provided for the first two weeks of the vans’ return in order to collect books that have been borrowed before the lockdown.
Lesley Matthews, Operational Library Lead at ANGUSalive said: “I’m bursting with excitement to get our vans back on the road again this December. It’s been a long wait due to the pandemic and we’re absolutely thrilled to get both Isla and Glen back visiting rural communities to provide a much loved and needed lifeline. Residents in rural communities are more prone to social isolation and loneliness and COVID-19 has only exacerbated this.
“We’re looking forward to seeing some of our regular visitors to our vans and hopefully some new faces too. We’d like to reassure everyone that great care has been taken to ensure our vans are safe and we hope that local communities will also be looking forward to seeing Isla and Glen return this December.”
Local resident Lesley McKenzie from Letham added: “I have missed the mobile library so much during lockdown, it was the highlight of my week!”
The vans can also provide tailored services to rural schools, nurseries and playgroups as well as support partners to deliver health and wellbeing information sessions. Interested partners should get in touch with the mobile team by emailing rurallibraryservices@angusalive.scot if they’d like to get on board.
For details of the mobile library timetable visit www.angusalive.scot/libraries and click on the mobile libraries section.
ANGUSalive
ANGUSalive (SC046133) is the culture, sport and leisure trust for the county of Angus and has been operating since December 2015.
