Richmond Tweed Regional Mobile Library flags 18-month wait for ‘purpose-built’ new trailer
The beloved Richmond Tweed Regional Mobile Library has been given almost half a million dollars for a much-needed new trailer – but there’s a bit of a wait before it hits the road.
Regional News
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Richmond Tweed Regional Mobile Library has been given almost half a million dollars for a much-needed new trailer – but it’ll be quite a while before it hits the road.
The trailer currently in use is a second-hand replacement brought into action after the 2022 floods decimated the original trailer.
The mobile library, which has operated for more than 40 years. was given $475,000 earlier this year towards the replacement of its trailer as part of the state government’s Public Library Infrastructure Grant program.
However, the purpose-built trailer is a while off and not expected to be in use for about 18 months.
The service travels the Ballina, Byron, Lismore and local government areas and its annual budget is $236,600, funded by the regions’ councils.
Regional library manager Lucy Kinsley said she was “so excited” and the funding showed acknowledgment of the importance of public library services in communities.
Ms Kinsley said the mobile service would be enhanced by the new trailer
“It’s a specific trailer that has to be purpose-built,” she said.
Library officer Gary Dardengo said the library visits about 20 locations in a two-week period.
“It will have all the capabilities as our old one we lost in the floods,” he said.
“We are aiming for it to be as green as possible.”
Ms Kinsley said the service has been running since way back in 1978.
“The trailer provides a wonderful opportunity to take libraries out to the smaller communities,” she said.
Pottsville mum Alison Kyel, 46, has been regularly visiting the library with her son Alex Leonard-Kyel, 9, for six years.
“In Pottsville, we don’t have a library we only have the mobile library on a Friday and every time I go there it’s just full of people borrowing books,” she said.
“After school, you can’t move … it’s hectic, but it’s great.
“It’s a community hub … all the staff are friendly and helpful … they know your name and who you are, they’ve got books set aside for you. It’s quite unique to have that service.”
Ms Kyel was looking forward to the new and improved trailer.
“We would be happy if it came more days, but they’ve got so many other places they go,” she said.
News Corporation Australia donated $20,000 to the Richmond-Tweed library after northern NSW was hit by the floods.
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