'Too expensive' and used by 1% of the population
Hammersmith and Fulham have decided to close the Mobile Library service as of the 21st December. They say it was too expensive, costing £132,000 a year and that it did not offer the wide range of services that H&F libraries increasingly provide to residents.
They also point to a recent survey which showed that less than one per cent of the population of Hammersmith and Fulham were actually using the service, and that only 15% of those users lived further than one mile from a library building.
The mobile library had about 3000 books including paperbacks, bestsellers, information and children’s titles. There were also talking books, music cassettes and children’s videos.
Recent changes to H&F Council's library service has seen the introduction of longer opening hours, an increase in frontline staff and the imminent development of a new library for Shepherd's Bush. The decline of the mobile library has led to the decision to stop the service from 21 December.
Cllr Paul Bristow, cabinet member for residents' services, said, "It was simply unsustainable to continue the service across the whole of the borough, but we have been careful to ensure that those areas most affected will be catered for. Negotiations with Ealing Council have led to an agreement to extend the Ealing Mobile Library into College Park and Old Oak from 2 January. "
For those who find travelling difficult, the Home Library service is available to deliver directly. The Council are currently seeking to bring the Home Library Service to the attention of more local residents which will enable some mobile users who are unable to reach their nearest library to receive a service at home. *
The Ealing mobile library will stop at three locations in Old Oak & College Park on a fortnightly basis: Sawley Road W12 - Wednesdays 12.15 - 12.45pm. Erconwald Street W12 - Wednesdays 2.15 - 5.00pm. Waldo Road NW10 - Wednesdays 6.00 - 7.00pm.
December 20, 2007