Cambridgeshire Libraries has been awarded £150,000 by Arts Council England to replace an ageing mobile library with a new, modern vehicle.
In addition to traditional library services, Cambridgeshire’s mobile libraries will be supported by Connecting Cambridgeshire and Cambridgeshire Skills, bringing digital access, skills support and devices directly to rural communities.
The new vehicle will act as an integral part of the overall service, supporting communities to access and build their confidence with technology.
Mobile libraries support people who cannot easily travel to a static library to access books, digital services and cultural opportunities. Cambridgeshire’s mobile libraries collectively make nearly 400 stops across the county each month, with the new vehicle likely to be deployed largely in Fenland.
Each mobile library carries up to 3,000 items of stock, including fiction, non-fiction, large print, books on CD and cassette, and children's books. Residents can also borrow magazines and jigsaws, buy stamps, reading glasses and even collect free walking stick ferrules and hearing aid batteries.
The £150,000 received from Arts Council England is part of £6.6 million being invested across the East of England to improve arts, culture and library buildings and services.
Cambridgeshire County Council is one of 130 organisations nationally to receive a share of funding, marking the first projects receiving a grant from the Government’s Arts Everywhere Fund.
Councillor Alison Whelan, Chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We’re very grateful to Arts Council England for this funding, which will make a real difference to so many rural communities in Fenland and other parts of Cambridgeshire.
“Our mobile libraries play a vital role for people who can’t easily reach a static library, helping them stay connected, independent and engaged with their community.
“Replacing the Fenland mobile library with a modern, digitally enabled vehicle, is part of our work to bring crucial services to rural communities, ensuring access to opportunities wherever we can, across the county.”
Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: "Everyone deserves access to opportunities in the place they call home and this £150,000 investment in a new mobile library for Cambridgeshire will bring books, digital access and skills support directly to rural communities, reaching people who might otherwise miss out.
“As more of our public services move online, it's vital that everyone has access to tools to keep up. This new mobile library will do exactly that, going to the communities that need it most."
Find out more about the Cambridgeshire Mobile Library service on our website.
