Waterford City and County Council awards mobile library contract to PRIMO Coachworks

Waterford City and County Council has signed contracts with PRIMO Coachworks Ltd for the construction of a new mobile library vehicle, marking a significant milestone in extending library services to rural communities across the county. The project, supported by €225,000 in government funding, is expected to become operational in 2027.

The Irish Independent reported that the funding was announced in April 2024 by Minister Heather Humphreys as part of the Department of Rural and Community Development's libraries capital programme 2023-2027. The allocation forms part of a €25 million investment in public libraries and library vehicles across Ireland.

The mobile library will serve areas of Waterford city and county not currently served by fixed library branches, providing access to books, audiobooks, magazines and historical newspapers. The vehicle will also function as a pop-up library at festivals including Towers and Tales and All Together Now, whilst visiting schools and nursing homes throughout the county.

Mayor of Waterford Cllr Seamus Ryan, a former librarian, said: "I am delighted, both as Mayor and as a former librarian, to see this important project come to fruition with the signing of this contract. The joy that comes from access to books, audiobooks, magazines and historical newspapers, wherever you are across the city and county, cannot be overstated."

City and County Librarian Mary Conway stated that the mobile library vehicle will provide much-needed access to library services for people in Waterford areas without nearby branch facilities.

The procurement followed Mayor Ryan's 2023 proposal for Waterford City and County Council to allocate €50,000 annually over four years towards the project. The mobile library initiative aligns with The Library is the Place strategy (2023-2027), which prioritises increasing outreach library services.

View the complete details on Waterford's mobile library procurement and community outreach plans.