The East Gippsland Shire Mobile Library Service – more commonly known as ‘the Bookie’ – recently celebrated 40 years of service. The Bookie has survived floods, bushfires and fierce storms to remain a popular community service. Keith Ridout has been with the mobile library since it began in 1963, becoming one of the most recognisable faces in East Gippsland.
He has travelled over 1.5 million kilometres with the Bookie, meeting thousands of people from all walks of life.
“I absolutely love the job,” he said. “Not many people say that about their work, but after 40 years I’m enjoying it just as much as when it all began.”
Keith has nicknamed all the mobile library vehicles ‘Betsy’. He is now driving Betsy 4 – a very colourful and modern vehicle, which he says drives up the mountains a lot easier.
Keith played a leading role in establishing the service for five Shires – Bairnsdale, Omeo, Orbost, Tambo and Alberton.He was the sole operator for 25 years and over the past 15 years he has had just three support drivers so he can take a well earned break.
The Alberton service ended in the early 1970s but since then the service area has remained the same, even after the amalgamation of the five Councils to form East Gippsland Shire.
Betsy travels an average of 35,000 km a year, although many trips were cancelled earlier this year due to bushfires. Keith knows the Shire like the back of his hand and says it’s sad to see the demise of some small communities.
“Over the years Noorinbee, Gelantipy, Wulgulmerang, Hillside and Toorloo Arm have dropped off the service, but we have picked up Newmerella, Clifton Creek and Woodglen.”
A previous winner of the Mobile Librarian of the Year, Keith still serves some of the same residents as 40 years ago, including some families with four generations of book borrowers.
“I see kids of yesteryear now as adults with their own children or even grandchildren doing the same thing,” he said.
Keith has had only one major hiccup along the way.
In 1987 he became lost on a road near Omeo and ended up in a paddock with injuries to himself and Betsy 3. A broken gear tooth in the steering box, which made it impossible to turn the steering wheel, caused the accident. Keith took 13 weeks off before returning to the driver’s seat.
These days, the East Gippsland Shire Mobile Library Service carries 5,000 items, including books, magazines, CDs and Council Meeting minutes.
“You can get anything in the Mobile Library Service that you could find at the town library,” he said.
“Our new system allows residents to make reservations over the internet but they still need the Mobile Library Service to deliver the items.”
There are 30 mobile libraries in Victoria, mainly in regional areas.
