NORTH Somerset Libraries has secured over £309k to purchase a new electric library outreach vehicle.

The vehicle will replace the current diesel-run mobile library and will be one of the first electric mobile vehicles in the country.

The funding was secured through the Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF), administered by Arts Council England.

The county's mobile library provides a outreach service to rural areas and small towns.

One customer said: “It’s a great community asset for the more rural villages in North Somerset and really important for keeping villages alive.” 

On top of the £309k of funding, North Somerset Council will contribute additional in-kind support and match funding of £40,000 from section 106 funds for library services. 

The new mobile library is expected to be ready to go in autumn 2025.

Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for Culture and Leisure, said: “I'm delighted that North Somerset Libraries have secured a significant pot of funding so we can upgrade our mobile library - well done to our officers for all their hard work in making this happen. 

“This outreach service is a vital asset for our rural residents who don’t have local libraries. We’ve also used the current vehicle for council consultations outside of the larger towns, helping us speak to as many residents as possible. 

“By upgrading our vehicle, we’re hoping to reach more groups and communities who do not currently use libraries, and help connect as many people to this fantastic service as possible. 

“And by switching to an electric vehicle, we’ll also be reducing the mobile library’s emissions and fuel costs. This will help us in our mission to protect the environment and build a green North Somerset.”

Phil Gibby, area director at Arts Council England South West, said: “We’re thrilled to announce a further £777,000 investment in library initiatives across the South West.

"Thanks to our Libraries Investment Fund and the hard work of staff and volunteers, we can help libraries engage more audiences than ever with the lifelong joy of reading. 

“Books are just the start – in Dorset, we're backing digital technology; on the Isle of Wight, we're renovating spaces for children and young people; and in North Somerset, we're funding a bespoke vehicle designed to engage the area’s most isolated communities.

“This work brings us significantly closer to achieving our strategic vision, Let’s Create.

"By 2030, our goal is to ensure that high-quality culture is easily accessible to everyone in England. Thanks to library teams and their loyal visitors, that vision is becoming a reality.”