A NEW chapter in mobile libraries for the Borders has just been opened.

Live Borders, the driving force behind Borders’ book borrowing, launched their new mobile library service last week.

And Lisa Denham, Connected and Creative Communities Manager, believes the latest addition to the fleet of three will continue to build on the high standard of customer service already offered.

She told us: “The design team have done a fantastic job and the new livery is a fresh take on capturing what services we offer as part of the wider library offering.

“The new vehicle is of an outstanding quality.

"Not only are our mobile libraries a source for books, they also provide information and allow members of the more rural and outlying areas the opportunity to engage and provide social interaction during their visits.”

The Mobile Library service plays an integral part in the Live Borders outreach operation, supporting rural communities.

The new van will cover Peebles, rural Tweeddale, Ettrick, Yarrow and areas around Galashiels and Melrose.

It will also deliver a service to many rural primary schools, care homes, sheltered housing and housebound borrowers.

Senior Librarian Keith Nairn added: “This mobile will replace a 12-year-old vehicle which has become expensive to operate over the last couple of years having covered many thousands of miles.

“The new van can carry approximately 2,500 items for loan and is stocked with a wide range of large print books, talking books, adult and children’s fiction books and is fully accessible with a disabled access lift.

“Mobile libraries are a valuable service to those in rural areas, schools, nurseries and residents with limited or no access to public transport, they also bring a service to residents who do not have an immediate access to a local library or maybe more isolated.”

Anyone with a Live Borders library card can use the service and those not already a library member but are interested in joining, can just take along proof of name, address and age to any of the mobile library vans or branch libraries and Live Borders staff will do the rest.

A timetable for all Live Borders mobile library vans can be found at www.scotborders.gov.uk/mobilelibrary