Libraries Unlimited
Let's get this Mobile Library on the road
We need your help to get a new Mobile Library on the road - bringing books and a lifeline to 80 rural communities in the South Hams and West Devon.
Story
Libraries Unlimited is fundraising for a new Mobile Library for communities in the South Hams and West Devon.
With your help Libraries Unlimited will:
- Source and fit new shelving systems to increase the number of books it can carry
- Adapt the seating to make it a comfortable place to visit and use
- Replace the floor covering and re-paint the van inside and out
Help Libraries Unlimited get this Mobile Library on the road
Did you know our current Ivybridge mobile library travels 806 miles every month? Stopping at 80 different places across the South Hams, skirting around Plymouth, travelling across Dartmoor into West Devon and going North into parts of Teignbridge too.
This mobile library carries 2,000 books to rural communities every week and just last year, 11,368 books were borrowed by people, young and old. It is much more than a book delivery service though. It brings a chance to socialise, meet with friends and share a love of stories and chat with Heidi, our friendly Mobile Library Assistant.
It's a good service, even if you don't think you'll use it yourself, you may have an elderly relative that has no access to a big public library. Seeing as we're so rural, it isn't easy, there's no public transport to speak of for most of the villages, so it's a really useful service and well worth supporting." Sandra from Beeson, mobile library customer.
Heidi, Mobile Library Assistant, serving Helen Grimes on the Mobile Library at Beesands.
Libraries Unlimited has found a second-hand van to replace 14-year old Gertie, our much-loved mobile library. Purchased with thanks to a £15,000 grant from Devon County Council at just a tenth of the cost of a brand-new mobile library, this 6-year old van will really improve the reliability of our service. It's only done 29,000 miles, so will give years of service to our rural communities.
However, it's currently geared for under fives inside and out and we need your help to get it back on the road to serve all the community.
Donations from this crowdfunder will be used to: remove existing internal lockers, furniture and shelving aimed at babies and under fives; reinforce the walls; source and fit new shelving systems; adapt the seating; replace the floor covering; and re-paint the van inside and out.
The personal connection and benefits communities experience from using this local mobile library service is abundant.
Books, reading is so important to everybody and to bring out the library to people is fantastic." Jane Chubb from Stokenham, mobile library customer.
It's a good place that people meet up who perhaps don't see one another." Sandra from Beeston, mobile library customer.
It's really good getting books of your choice, whenever you want. I like having it very much and it will be great to get this replacement on the road." Helen Grimes from Beesands, mobile library customer.
Donate to this essential service and keep the mobile library going for future generations. justgiving.com/campaign/get-mobile-library-on-road
The second-hand van has been purchased thanks to a Devon County Council £15,000 grant. With the help of our communities we can get it on the road.
Libraries Unlimited is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
Update on Tuesday 29th June 2021
This is an update to all our kind supporters who helped raise over £13,000 to help us carry out some work to bring a newer mobile library on to the roads to communities across the South Hams, West Devon and parts of Teignbridge.
Youll remember that with a grant from Devon County Council we were able to buy a second-hand mobile van, which had previously been run by Leeds City Council. Its a lot younger (6 years old) and so has plenty of life left in it, meaning we can retire our current vehicle which is over 14 years old. But it needed some work inside and outside to make sure its fit for purpose, and your donations will enable us to do this. Unfortunately, lots of things havent been able to move as quickly as wed all like given COVID restrictions, and so the mobile is still with our trusted mechanics and fitters, being prepared for works to be carried out. Mike from Enterprise PLC who is overseeing the works says that "Were looking forward to working with Libraries Unlimited to carry out the necessary works to get the mobile in great shape to be serving customers in the Autumn this year."
As work takes shape on the vehicle, well be sharing some pictures via social media so you can see how it's progressing. Were excited that well be able to bring a better service to you in the near future, and really appreciate all your support to enable this to happen.
We will be in touch nearer to the launch date to share the latest news.
If you would like to contact us, in the meantime, please email fundraising@librariesunlimited.org.uk
Update on Monday 15th December
Our campaign is now drawing to a close, and this page will close on Saturday 19th December.
You can still help us by donating by text (text BOOK to 70460 to donate £3*), or you can make a donation on our JustGiving Platform.
We are so grateful to everyone - our customers, supporters and fundraisers - for donating to and sharing our campaign to get this mobile library on the road.
Update on Monday 30th November
Thank you for your support. Throughout our campaign to get this mobile library on the road we have been warmed by the care for our library services in rural communities..
These are a selected of the kind words we've received.
I am always so grateful for the books from the mobile library. Being disabled, I am unable to travel to the local library so rely on the mobile.
It's good to have something that is almost normal.
This describes our Choose and Collect service during lockdown.
Good luck with this. Mobile libraries are such a valuable resource in rural areas to promote reading and wellbeing, and to reduce social isolation and loneliness.
Our campaign is drawing to a close. We are awaiting decisions on funding applications and whilst this happens, this page remains open. .
Update on Tuesday 24th November
From Rachel Gee, Service Development Manager (Rural Services)
We are absolutely delighted to say that, thanks to your generosity, we have currently raised £8,001!
We are so grateful to everyone - our customers, supporters and fundraisers - for donating to and sharing our campaign. We are continuing to explore offline donations which are being added to our total.
We are asking you for one final push to transform our mobile library.
Your support is enabling us to improve the reliability of our service for our rural communities.
With your help, we can get this mobile library on the road together!
Update on Friday 20th November
A message from Heidi, your Mobile Library Assistant.
Update on Friday 6th November
We will be on the road throughout the latest national lockdown, delivering books to local communities via our contactless Choose and Collect service. Contact Ivybridge Library via email at ivybridge.library@librariesunlimited.org.uk or call 01752 893140 if you would like a free delivery of books to pick up from your regular stop. New members welcome.
All of our Devon mobile libraries will be on the road during lockdown supporting our rural communities. To use your local mobile library Choose and Collect service telephone or email the base library used by your mobile library. If you need to confirm the base library please check here: www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/mobilelibraries
Thank you to everyone who is donating to and sharing our campaign to get a new mobile library on the road.
If you find reading a great comfort during these difficult times, you can make sure this happens for someone else by supporting our campaign.
Update on Thursday 29th October
Thank you to everyone who is sharing and donating to our campaign to get a new mobile library on the road.
We're excited to receive your donations. Thank you to those who are donating offline, these donations are being added to our total.
During lockdown the mobile library team phoned every mobile library customer, and since July we have been on the road again. For the first 2 months to keep customers and staff safe we delivered bags of books, and since September we've been allowing people to come back on board to choose their own. Customers have been incredibly happy to see the return of the mobile library; many tell us that using our service not only provides their reading material but also gives them the opportunity to meet and talk to other people.
We really thought your call yesterday was brilliant and so reassuring that the library is fulfilling its full role of a caring community resource and not just a place to borrow a book. THANK YOU...for just being there for those who need to feel they haven't been forgotten and left without a friendly chat and for being proactive in contacting people." Library Customer.
You can donate in person at any of our mobile libraries or donate by cheque (payable to Libraries Unlimited South West) to Mobile Library C/O Finance Team, Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PQ.
Let's get this Mobile Library on the road!