Mackay City Council’s Mobile Library Operator, John Wilson, has been named winner of the national Mobile Library Operator of the Year Award. John Wilson has worked for Council for 20 years and was presented with his prestigious award at the Mobile Muster held recently in Maroochy.
Award recipients are selected by a panel comprising representatives from libraries across Australia and New Zealand.
Mackay Mayor, Julie Boyd, said she was extremely pleased to see John’s dedication to his profession and customers recognised through the award.
“John’s service to our City and Mackay Libraries over the past 20 years has been exemplary,” Councillor Boyd said. “He is an institution in our community, and over the past two decades has driven more than 500,000 kilometres and assisted thousands of customers borrow more than 1.4 million library items.”
Cr Boyd said given that Mackay City Council’s area of responsibility covers 2,820 square kilometres, a mobile library is a necessity for the City and its 80,000 residents. John has a timetable that includes 22 different locations across our region and his stops encompass everything from small rural schools to beachside communities.
“His regular visits are always highly-anticipated by the customers he serves and the mobile library vehicle and trailer are always immaculately maintained and presented,” Councillor Boyd said. “He goes to great efforts to ensure customers in outlying areas have access to as diverse a range of library items as possible, despite the limited space available.”
