THEY have been trundling along the highways and byways of Gloucestershire come rain or shine for decades. But the mobile library is more than just a book bus.

It is a community lifeline delivering education, entertainment and companionship to residents in the hinterlands of our county.

SNJ reporter David Gibbs samples life aboard an itinerant institution.

"IT is people, books and wonderful countryside," said Kay Severance neatly summing up life as a library assistant aboard the Five Valleys Mobile Library.

"A super combination."

She and driver Alan Hodges were bracing themselves for the sudden rush of regulars aboard the bus at its 10.30am Bussage stop on an overcast Wednesday morning.

Alan nods in agreement before explaining how the mobile library is so much more than just a travelling repository of books.

"We provide a service to the rural community," he said.

"Yesterday an elderly lady said to me, 'You know, you're the first person I have spoken to since Sunday'.

"It's incredible but it actually happens. We are a sort of social service."

"The library is a lifeline to some people because our remit is to take books to people who can't get to libraries themselves."

His assertions are born out by the handful of elderly residents filing up the library steps to be greeted familiarly by Kay.

"I think for our generation the library is very important," said pensioner Eric Roberts, 85, boarding the van.

"It is an outlet, something to keep you interested in life. I would be stuck at home watching TV all day otherwise."

Conspicuously, Mr Roberts is the only man among a flock of women perusing the bookshelves and chatting among themselves.

"It's a good meeting point for the Women's Institute," he said with a smile. "They really enjoy it these women."

Time flies in the mobile library.

Before long the half-hour scheduled for Bussage is up, the regulars disembark and the library rumbles off down the road to the fourth of the 13 stops throughout for the day.

The routine is much the same, wherever they stop.

Each one begins with a climactic flurry of activity as the doors open and regular borrowers climb aboard to scout for books, meet and greet Kay and Alan and exchange gossip with one another.

"We have our regulars at each stop," said Alan. "We could write wonderful books about it."

Alan, 57, filling in time before he retires, and Kay, 51, have worked together for the last six years.

Before joining the library service Alan was a Ministry of Defence civil servant and Kay worked as a residential social worker in the Forest of Dean.

"It is a very nice job to have in our twilight years," said Kay gently.

"We enjoy going around different places and the view outside the window changes every time.

It is clear Alan and Kay are more than just driver and library assistant.

They are trusted friends of the communities they serve, sharing confidences, sympathies and celebrations.

It is a friendship affectionately reciprocated.

At a late afternoon stop in Waterlane near Bisley regulars Margaret Bucknell and Jean Parsons arrive bearing tea and cakes

"It is our meeting place," said Jean. "It's a wonderful way to catch up. What we often say to each other is 'We'll see you down at the library."

But the absence of the younger generation at each of the stops is all too noticeable. In our hyper-technological age the mobile library appears to be something of an anachronism.

"As the regulars die they are not being replaced by new people coming on board," said Kay.

Pensioner Morris Bucknell said: "We would miss it if it went because it is a meeting place as well. I haven't got Internet and you could get sick of looking at a screen.

"It's almost a social centre. There's a good chance for a chat to keep up with village gossip and select a few books.

Lending hope for years to come, he added: "My two grandchildren came here last time. They liked the novelty of it."

As the refreshments were distributed, so the van filled with the sound of animated conversation and Kay was swept up in the bustle and swell of activity.

Standing behind the counter above the driver's seat, Alan sipped from his mug of tea and observed the unfolding scene with quiet contentment.