Excuse the weak pun, but I really do think this is a good idea. With libraries facing funding cuts, and rural communities having to travel to towns or cities to use libraries, this retired schoolteacher in Italy decided to create his own mobile library to serve the area he lives in.
Love the ide!
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The best thing is that it can work anywhere, in any country.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ana D shared this with me. What a wonderful example of doing what we can, with what we have, where we are.
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Thanks for taking time to leave a comment. I am happy that you enjoyed the post.
Best wishes, Pete.
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While there are not a lot of them today, I remember mobile librarians back in the 50s. Warmest regards, Ed
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We had a mobile library coming to Beetley once a week, but I haven’t seen it here in over a year now.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love this!
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I knew you would, Jennie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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You know me well. 😀
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A great idea which seems to be gathering momentum around the world..Cute motor x
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Yes, pop-up libraries are appearing in Norfolk villages too.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Brilliant idea and I am sure that after a lifetime of teaching he loves still being an active part of his community.. x
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It is definitely benficial for him, as well as the community.
Thanks, Sally.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Here in the town I live we have our main library but we also have “little libraries” which people build themselves (some choose to buy). They hold about 20-40 books. People set them in front of their homes and anyone is welcome to take a book or put books in it. We have about 30 in my town so far but they are all over California. Not sure if you have them there?
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We do have some around the country. In some areas old disused phone boxes are re-purposed for that use. Here is a link about those, Christina.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love this~!
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I guessed you would, Beth.
Best wishes, Pete.
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yes!!!!defiantly!
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Proofread… “definitely”
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Thanks, Pejj.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Now there’s a thought for dealing with the rampant book banning in the US. When the book-banning nuts descend, just put the petal to the metal!
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Great idea, Liz.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks, Pete! 😉
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very common here, some areas have big buses.
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/mobile/
Some areas have internet order & they will post the book to you with a return bag.
Some areas have shared community library (council) combined with the local high school library. In the village I spend much of my time these days there are 2 fulltime librarians – one employed by the school the other by council. That is common here, even in cities.
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Thanks for the link, Gavin. We also have some large mobile library vehicles in rural areas, though many have been lost due to spending cutbacks.
Best wishes, Pete.
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huh, makes you wonder why no one has thought of this before!
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Many rural areas of Britain have long had large mobile libraries provided by local authorities. In recent years some have been lost due to spending cutbacks. But the Italian man using his own time and money to do this is a good inspiration to others.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think the resurgence of book mobiles is a good thing. My wife made the same comment when one appeared in old rerun of Midsomer Murders.
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I am always amazed at the popularity of Midsomer Murders. I have always thought of it more as a comedy programme than a reflection of life in England. Our version of ‘Murder She Wrote’, Phil. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh yes. It’s the scenery and low key presentation, among other reasons mentioned by the original producer before he left. Nothing beats a cozy “cozy”.
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Bookmobile….remember them from my youth…..good idea then good idea now. chuq
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It was good of that man to use his own time and money to provide the service.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Next they’ll think of delivery milk to your doorstep, but maybe that’s a srep too far.
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That still happens in Beetley. But they use a long-wheelbase transit, not an electric float.
(I buy mine from Tesco, as I have to get the big shop there anyway.)
Best wishes, Pete.
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We had rolling libraries when I was in the lower grades at school….a converted passenger bus. Came once a month to the school.
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We have large mobile libraries in some rural areas. There used to be one in Beetley once a week, but I haven’t seen it in over a year.
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a great idea
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And it could work anywhere. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Fabuloous!
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Glad you liked it, Annette.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Hi Pete, a great idea. In the UK you have book exchanges don’t you? Where people trade books. I’ve seen pictures of the little boxes with books inside. Some of them are very fancy and nicely made.
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We do, and we also have large mobile libraries that go to small villages, though many have been removed due to funding cuts. (Including the one that used to come to Beetley)
Best wishes, Pete.
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That is a pity. Books and ensuring people have access to them, is not a good area to cut funding 😔
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He looks happy! People here are placing small (enclosed against the weather) shelves outside their homes where they place books they want to pass along and it works as an exchange. I think it works well though we don’t do it ourselves.
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That happens here, and we also had a large official mobile library lorry once a week in Beetley. That stopped coming last year, and we have no idea when or if it will return.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s a cute van!
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Having a motor-scooter at the front makes it economical to run too. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We did have a mobile library for years, but I haven’t seen it recently. However, I have seen old red telephone boxes turned into places where books can be deposited and shared.
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We had a mobile library in Beetley until the middle of last year. Then it stopped coming. Someone said it was damaged in an accident, and might never be replaced. I didn’t use it, but lots of other local old people relied on it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I haven’t seen ours for about 2 years. Funding issues I suppose.
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In England, a mobile library could be filled with books written by the many authors that follow your blog. I suppose if the vehicle were an EV, it could be filled with e-books!
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I wasn’t expecting electric vehicles! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We have little library stands all around here. I think they’re great. I like this idea of a mobile library truck too. 🙂
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Mobile libraries were familiar in rural communities in Britain, Jeanne. We had one in Beetley until last year. Sadly, funding cuts and staffing issues are resulting in many of them being removed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hope they can continue once again. I think they are a great idea. Have a great day Pete. 🙂
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It’s interesting [although also slightly sad, in this case] that good ideas go around in circles. I believe that in the early days of libraries, mobile libraries [on horseback then] were quite common, especially in rural areas. Nowadays, in Britain, with all the funding cuts, it appears that libraries have to rely heavily on volunteers — that’s certainly the case with the main library in my town; there’s also a mobile library, in a large van, which goes round the outlying villages. I would be lost without my library, because I don’t buy books: I already have plenty, and no room to store any more! Cheers, Jon.
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We had a large mobile library in Beetley until the middle of last year. Then the vehicle was involved in an accident, and taken out of service. The council do not know when funding will become available for a replacement.
I also have no more room for books, which is why I bought a Kindle tablet.
Best wishes,
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