Call to bring back children's library bus rejected

The bus library service was axed in 2023

Calls to bring back a children's mobile library have been rejected.

North Tyneside Council decided to end visits from its children's book bus to schools in 2023.

A cross-party group of councillors urged officials to bring it back to promote reading among primary school children.

The council's cabinet rejected the recommendation, saying the resources were needed elsewhere.

Labour councillor Steve Phillips, the council's cabinet member for education, told a meeting on Monday he was confident schools still had comprehensive access to libraries.

A council report said the decision to halt the bus service had been taken after "significant external consultation", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"As opposed to a single visit and opportunity to borrow books once every half term via the mobile library, the strategy and new service offers more for children," the report said.

A council scrutiny committee earlier this year found reading levels among North Tyneside children were "generally favourable when compared to national averages".

About 82% of pupils were meeting the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check, compared to 80% nationally, it said.

The council agreed a series of recommendations instead, including increased marketing of libraries, encouraging schools to implement paired reading programmes across year groups and incorporate reading into holiday programmes.

Earlier in the year, North Tyneside Council retired its other book bus, which had been stationed outside the closed Tynemouth Library and also served care homes and sheltered accommodation.

It had on average 22 visitors per day and was no longer deemed value for money, the council said at the time of the decision.