New location for Hunmanby mobile library sees visitors soar

The Super Mobile Library was moved from the rear of the White Swan pub to outside Bayley Gardens and North Yorkshire Library Service expected to see an increase in use by up to 50 per cent.

This gave the library a target to build visits from eight people to 12 in Hunmanby.

In the first three months after the relocation (November 2019 to February 2020) average use has in fact risen by over 300 per cent to an average of 35 people per visit.

This rise puts the Hunmanby Super Mobile Library top of the leader board as the best used mobile library across the county of North Yorkshire.

It had previously been 17th out of 20 mobile libraries.

Nick Harvey, Hunmanby volunteer, said: “The Super Mobile is now often double staffed as it is that busy.

“The trial has worked and the new venue is now permanent.”

Usually the mobile library comes to the village once every two weeks, however on March 23 North Yorkshire Library and Information Service took the difficult decision to temporarily close all of its libraries until further notice due to coronavirus.

The decision was made in the interests of the safety of customers, staff and volunteers.

A digital library service is available online at www.northyorks.gov.uk/digital-library and activities for children and recommendations are being shared via www.facebook.com/pg/nycclibraries.

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