New mobile library vans are coming – albeit a bit later than planned.
Published by High Life Highland
Two new mobile libraries, to serve customers in more rural parts of the Highlands have been delayed due to supply chain issues, High Life Highland and The Highland Council have confirmed today.
It was announced earlier this year that The Highland Council was committing £332,000 to secure the new vehicles, which were due to be brought into service this summer. However, manufacturing delays caused by global supply issues means that delivery of the new vans is now behind schedule.
The Highland Council and High Life Highland work in collaboration to provide the mobile library service with The Council providing and maintaining the vehicles and High Life Highland operating the service.
Both High Life Highland and The Council recognise that mobile libraries are a crucial part of community life throughout the Highlands and are keen to stress that improvements to these rural library services are on the way, but sadly later than originally hoped.
Julie Corcoran, Head of Libraries at High Life Highland explained: “We want to assure our customers that they will have a walk-on library in their area again soon and share their disappointment and frustration at news of the delay. This has been caused by circumstances out with our control. We would now estimate that the changes to the mobile library service are likely to take place over the winter.
“We very much look forward to delivering improvements to the service at the earliest possible time and would thank all our customers and mobile library service staff for their patience while we work towards reinstating a walk-on mobile library service for all our rural customers.”
Chair of Highland Council’s Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson said: “While the delay in receiving new vehicles is unfortunate this is still a good news story, and the Council is actively engaging with suppliers to expedite the process and ensure the vehicles are delivered as soon as possible. Regular updates on the progress of the builds will continue to be provided to High Life Highland."