Terrington St Clement student Adele Tolhurst creates petition to help protect mobile libraries in Norfolk

A 15-year-old has decided to take matters into her own hands to protect mobile libraries in the county.

St Clement’s High School student Adele Tolhurst has started a petition, saying the library vans are vital.

She says there is a “desperate need” for better advertising of mobile libraries so that residents know when they are coming to an area near them.

Having used the service herself, Adele has said that they are “vital” to those who may not be able to get to a library.

Before making the petition, the Terrington student sent out a survey to gather information on what people already knew about mobile libraries and what the demand is for the service.

Adele said: “I have been using the mobile library for years and I believe it is such a helpful way to allow everyone to have the opportunity to read.

“I was especially drawn to the topic last year when my family didn’t have a car and I discovered just how difficult it is to reach simple places people use in their day-to-day life.

“It made me really think about all the others in our rural area who may be struggling from the same problem.”

Adele found that 6% of the people who answered her survey said that they didn’t know about mobile libraries beforehand, but would use them.

The student added: “Although I am aware that the number is small, I had limited resources to send out the survey so I sent it to whoever I could and I’m positive that if it was sent out to the whole of Norfolk that number would increase.

“It proves that if people know about the service they will use it.”

She started the project as part of a school Active Citizenship project.

Adele said: “The project gave me a reason to start something I was already passionate about. I hope I can help to stop the further reduction of these vans and allow more people to know about this service that could really benefit them as it did for me.”

Her online petition has gained more than 250 signatures. She is hoping that the petition will help secure the future of mobile libraries in the area.

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