Dorset library service receives High Sheriff Award

The benefits of the Dorset Home Library Service were recognised at a ceremony held in Poundbury recently with it receiving one of 13 High Sheriff Awards.

High Sheriff Anthony Woodhouse said: “Royal Voluntary Service is an exceptional charity that brings the library service to anybody who can no longer reach their local facility. Not only does the Home Library Service enable people to continue to access the joy of reading for longer but also provides an important antidote to feelings of loneliness and isolation.”

The award was presented to Maria Jacobson, the service manager for Dorset and BCP Home Library Service, who said she represented the 250 volunteers across the area that provide the service to almost 800 people.

She said: “This is a free service, combining the delivery of individually chosen books with a much-anticipated visit by a trusted volunteer. We are not well-known despite our reach, and this special recognition means a lot to us and will no doubt help us to spread the word and reach many more people across Dorset and BCP.”

To find out more about the Home Library Service and how to sign up as a reader, please contact Maria Jacobson on 01305 236666 or e-mail maria.jacobson@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.