THE Family and Mobile Libraries have been transferred from the Department of Education and Children (DEC) to the Manx Educational Foundation (MEF).
A provisional agreement between the parties was reached in April, after then Education Minister Peter Karran announced in February that due to budget cuts the services were ear-marked for closure.
Under the three-year deal, which came into effect on September 1 but was only announced on Wednesday, funding is provided by online gaming company PokerStars.
Kurt Roosen, of the MEF, said: ‘MEF will maintain staffing, services and subscriptions at their existing levels.’
DEC director of strategy and corporate services Heather Christian said: ‘We are pleased that, thanks to the MEF, the library services currently offered by the DEC will be safeguarded into the future.’ The MEF is a not for profit, non-governmental organisation set up to encourage public-private sector partnerships in education.
The Family Library based in Westmoreland Road, Douglas, has the largest collection of books for children and young people on the island. The Mobile Library operates 10 routes, visiting each once a fortnight as well as serving care homes and the housebound.
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