Mobile library under review as visits fall

The future of Shropshire's mobile library service is to be put under the spotlight after a five per cent fall in the number of users.

Shirehall leaders are expected to agree to a review of provision to establish the "best way forward". A report to the Shropshire Council cabinet says there are nine mobile library vehicles, seven of which are for the general public, one which serves the housebound and care homes, and one for schools.

All bar the the school's vehicle are funded from the council's public libraries budget.

The report being presented on Wednesday says that visits to mobile libraries have fallen by five per cent overall between 2005/05 and 2008/09. However this hides wide variations between vehicles.

Over the same period, the mobile library operating out of Whitchurch and covering north east Shropshire has seen the number of visits increase by 26 per cent while the vehicles covering the rural areas around Oswestry have seen visits fall by 27 per cent.

The community care mobile has seen a steep decline of 49 per cent, according to the report.

It adds: "A review is necessary to ensure that the best use is made of the vehicles and that the pattern of provision continues to meet people's needs.

"While visits have overall only declined slightly, issues of books have fallen 26 per cent overall between 2004/05 and 2008/09, and although the level varies between mobile libraries, all have seen a decline."

The report says any review should look at the reasons why customers choose to use the mobile library and whether that is the best way to meet their needs.

Unlike in community libraries, there is no public computer provision in mobile libraries and so the loan of items is the main element of their business.

"The number of items issued per year has fallen by 21 per cent overall between 2004/05 and 2009/0 and decline to varying degrees is the pattern across all vehicles," says the report.

Most "stops" receive a visit once a fortnight, although some larger locations are visited weekly.

The report says that the mobile service currently costs about £502,000 a year to run. This gives an average cost per visit of £6.05 compared to a cost per visit for the whole of the county's library service of £2.95.

Costs have risen at above inflation rates.