Education on wheels thanks to the Volkswagen Transporter

West Sussex County Council is using a converted Volkswagen Transporter as a versatile mobile library for a new educational service for pre-school children. The Early Years Mobile Library – a partnership project between libraries and children’s centres – visits nurseries, play groups, parent and toddler groups, and family centres in villages around the Horsham area.

This unique Volkswagen Transporter conversion features a distinctive livery designed by popular authors and illustrators Laurence and Catherine Anholt. The library interior consists of space for almost 1,500 picture books, storage for toys and equipment, children’s seats over the wheel arches, a white board and display area, plus a consultation area where parents can speak to an Early Years professional. A ramp for safer access for small children and prams has also been fitted.

The base vehicle was a Volkswagen Transporter with a 2.5-litre five-cylinder 130 PS TDI engine, which was converted by Bluebird Vehicles of Scarborough.

The County Council chose the Volkswagen Transporter for this unusual role because it needed a van that was not too large to negotiate narrow country lanes or small car parks at village halls often used by pre-school groups, and which could be successfully converted to carry a large amount of books and equipment.

‘We needed a versatile vehicle that was smaller than a conventional mobile library, easy to drive and which did not require a HGV licence,’ said Assistant County Librarian, Lesley Sim. ‘The County Council already uses the Volkswagen Transporter as a minibus, so after talking to the drivers and consulting with Bluebird Vehicles on the potential for a creative conversion it was decided that the Transporter was ideal for our needs.’

West Sussex County Council is committed to making early years services and information more accessible and the Volkswagen Transporter Early Learning Mobile Library is at the forefront of this policy. With the scheme meeting with widespread approval, West Sussex County Council has subsequently ordered another two Volkswagen Transporters to deliver mobile children’s centre services to areas without a static facility.

For further information about the Volkswagen Transporter or to find your nearest Volkswagen Van Centre, visit volkswagen-vans.co.uk.