The home library service, run by Royal Voluntary Service, is hoping to attract new readers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Operating from most libraries in Dorset and the BCP area, the service brings books to people who can no longer get to the library.

Volunteers deliver books and share their love of reading with the people they visit. They are a friendly face and a regular visitor to those whose mobility and social interactions are limited, and they provide a useful check on the safety and well-being of their readers, too.

One of the readers said: “It is an excellent service; it’s a real delight when it is hard to get to the library oneself. The volunteer is so friendly; they may be the only person I shall see all day.”

Maria Jacobson, service manager for Dorset and BCP Home Library Services, said: “For people who enjoy reading or listening to an audio recording but find getting out of the house challenging, this service offers a vital link to the local library. The service enables them to carry on doing something they’ve always enjoyed and helps alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.”

The Home Library Service is delivered free of charge; it is not only for older people, but for anybody who finds getting to the library difficult, including carers.

To find out more or to request the service please contact the Royal Voluntary Service office on 01305 236666, or e-mail Maria on maria.jacobson@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk. Alternatively you can speak to the staff at your local library.