Unfortunately the mobile library service for Midmar, Cuny, Sauchen, Monymusk and Blairdaff will be cancelled today due to technical problems with the bus. Aberdeenshire Council hope to resume a reduced level of service in these areas this afternoon using an alternative vehicle.

Aberdeenshire Council Libraries are celebrating after being given the stamp of approval by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).

The council service was officially deemed excellent by the independent advisory body last week, following a visit by representatives of SLIC to assess the quality of library provision to local communities.

The service was rated as excellent in the personal and community participation category, with praise for outreach services such as home deliveries to those who cannot access their local library, help with computer and mobile devices, and the range of writing and research workshops, visiting speakers, author talks and storytelling sessions available to users.

Other initiatives which attracted positive comments include a postal service to those who are registered blind, support for reading groups, bibliotherapy sessions for carers and those in care homes, tailored collections of books in other languages and the range and reach of the mobile library service.

The SLIC representatives met with local customers and partners at Turriff and Inverurie libraries to find out from users what impact the service had for them, and learned about the various projects running in the communities.

SLIC also praised Westhill Library in its feedback, stating: “The new library at Westhill is a well-designed and laid-out, attractive public space. It is an excellent example of the quality of valued, public space which people want to come to and spend time in.”

Aberdeenshire Council’s Director of Education, Learning and Leisure, Maria Walker, said: “I am very pleased with the positive feedback our library service has attracted and would like to congratulate all the staff and volunteers who work very hard to make sure libraries continue to hold an important place in communities across the area.”

Helen Dewar, Aberdeenshire Council’s Principal Libraries Officer, said: “I am delighted with the outcome of the recent evaluation and the recognition it gives to the very high quality of the library service in Aberdeenshire.

“Library staff look forward to building on excellent practice and continuing to extend the reach of the service through working with partners, volunteers and the third sector.”

She added: “It was good to hear the examiners say they were leaving with many excellent ideas worth sharing with other authorities.”

For more information on Aberdeenshire Council libraries, visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/libraries or join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireLibraries.

The library service is also available to follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/onceuponashire.

I was delighted to be asked to be unofficial photographer for Sir Robert Smith, MP last week during his pre-Christmas visit to Royal Mail’s sorting office in Westhill even though it meant an earlier than usual start for me in the morning! It was great to see behind the scenes and meet the staff who were already two hours into their busy day. Manager Derek Angus explained that Royal Mail customers seemed to have ordered online gifts earlier this year after suffering delays in the midst of adverse weather in the run up to last Christmas, so for staff the parcel rush had come a little earlier on in December than usual. The staff were in good spirits and Sir Robert spent some time finding out more about their work. He said  “The Royal Mail posties play a crucial role in ensuring effective delivery of the mail. No other organisation has the local knowledge and network to reach every door in the country.  The regulator needs to ensure that rival companies do not put that network at risk as they compete for the easier parts of the process.”