There’s a new souped up Mercedes in town.
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Bookshelves, internet access and even printing facilities have transformed a Mercedes Sprinter van purchased by Queanbeyan-Palerang Libraries.
The van will travel throughout the region’s small communities, providing them with library facilities.
The van will travel as far north as Nerriga, out towards Wamboin and Bywong, down to Araluen, Majors Creek and Gundillion, and out towards Burra, Googong, Jerrabomberra, Carwoola, Captains Flat and Hoskintown.
The van will contain 800-1,000 books, which will be rotated on a regular basis.
So far the van has been on a trial run to several communities, including Krawarree, and everything seems to be going to plan. At this stage the van is likely to visit communities fortnightly.
The van will fill a need long experienced by the more remote communities in the region, says librarian Ainslee Austen.
“It was definitely a community need even before the council’s merged, there’s a lot of small towns that can’t get into Bungendore, Braidwood [or] Queanbeyan,” said Ms Austin.
“I hope it brings the community together. So far we’ve had some positive responses from the towns that we’ve visited, and people are very excited.”