A new partnership between Enfield Council and the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) has been set up to deliver library books, CDs, DVDs, and spoken word books to people who cannot easily get out to a local library.
The new arrangements were marked with an informal visit from RVS Operations Manager, Heather James, at Enfield Town Library on Wednesday 10 February.
The new RVS run service will build on the work done by Enfield Council’s home delivery service which visited more than 250 people every four weeks and expand on it still further.
Cllr Ayfer Orhan, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services, Protection & Libraries, said: “RVS is a national volunteer organisation with immense experience which will help us to maintain an extremely valuable service.
“We know that people of all ages – who for many reasons are unable to get to their local library, appreciate the service. This is not just about delivering books, it also has a social dimension, particularly for those people who live alone and may have few visitors.
“Our home delivery service means that we shall provide friendly visits every four weeks with a variety of books, CDs and DVDs from choices made by residents.”
Heather James, said: “We are delighted to support Enfield Council. Royal Voluntary Service works with a number of councils to run volunteer services and the home delivery service for libraries is something that volunteers are pleased to do.
“Volunteers for this Enfield library service will each be responsible for to up to ten people. They prepare deliveries and find out about their clients’ reading, viewing and listening preferences. These visits make all the difference to the people who receive their library items, keeping them in touch and bringing them some reading or other entertainment.”
For information about volunteering or applying to use the service please contact: Gemma Panayi on: 020 8379 8456 or 07507 659914
Email: gemma.panayi@enfield.gov.uk