October 24 2024:
To our library bookmobile patrons and community members:
We are sharing with you today, that after much consideration, the Cape Breton Regional Library Bookmobile will be making its final run on November 28, 2024. At that time, the library will be transitioning to a Borrow by Mail program.
Libraries are a central and integral part of the community, and a constant in an ever-shifting world. Over the years, Cape Breton Regional Library has continuously evolved to meet changing needs while staying true to our core mission of strengthening and inspiring the communities we serve. Providing library service in today’s world can be challenging, and while we’ve had many successes, we’ve also experienced numerous obstacles and had to make difficult decisions. After investing increasing amounts of funds and resources into the bookmobile over the past several years, it became apparent that the service was no longer feasible or accessible, and it was time for a change.
What hasn’t changed is our strong commitment to providing library service to residents of rural communities.
CBRL’s new Borrow by Mail program is a free mail-order library service available to:
- Rural residents of CBRM and Victoria County who live more than 15 kilometres from a branch
- Individuals who are unable to travel to their local branch due to disability or accessibility issues.
Borrow by Mail users can select material such as books, magazines, audiobooks, and DVDs from the online library catalogue or via telephone, and items will be sent via Canada Post directly to your mailbox. Each shipment includes a postage-paid return label to send items back to the library by mail. You may request as many items as you like, or as many as your mailbox can accommodate. For more information on the Borrow by Mail program, please visit our the Borrow-by-Mail page.
Library staff are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition for our patrons in the coming weeks and months. CBRL’s bookmobile driver, Mary, will be taking on a new role as the main point of contact for the Borrow by Mail program, and you can count on her to provide the support and resources you need. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to us by phone at 902-562-3279 or via email at borrowbymail@cbrl.ca.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the library patrons and local organizations who are an essential part of our library community. We truly appreciate your patronage and support, and we pledge to continue to provide you with the quality and care you expect and deserve.
Thank you for being part of our journey as our story continues, together.