New Mobile Library is Ready to Serve
The library district has a vast collection of books, music and movies, but that doesn’t help the thousands of children, teens and adults who can’t get to a library branch.
That’s the beauty of a “traveling library” – a bookmobile – that makes regular stops in area neighborhoods every week.
And we have a beauty of a bookmobile today.
Using a grant from the Friends of the Library, the Springfield-Greene County Library District bought a new, 32-foot vehicle, The Mobile Library. It arrived June 8, and replaces the lumbering, 20-year-old bookmobile that has traveled 178,074 miles.
Other sponsors whose logos we’re proud to display on the vehicle include TelComm Credit Union, St. John’s Health System, Signs Now and the Library Foundation.
Within days of arriving, the Mobile Library began its 26 weekly stops across Springfield, to Walnut Grove and Turner’s Station. As the old vehicle did, we expect the Mobile Library will serve more than 18,000 customers annually – and we’d always like to serve more.
The Mobile Library schedule of stops is available online at thelibrary.org/mobilelibrary, in the Bookends catalog or by calling our Outreach Department, 883-5366, ext. 2.
Some quick facts: It’s designed to hold up to 3,000 books, DVDs, music CDs and audiobooks for all ages; a TV screen displays services and upcoming programs; it has a built-in awning for special events; and customers have access to any of the materials available at the other library branches.
“It is the most convenient way to check out books and movies for those who do not have transportation in order to get to a library,” 47-year-old William told us last year.
Anyone is welcome to use the Mobile Library. But many of our customers are children whose parents don’t take them to the library or have the time to take them, said Outreach Services Coordinator Allison Eckhardt. The Mobile Library also gives customers with special needs more individualized service, she added.
“These customers come on board and enjoy the opportunity to choose for themselves what they want to read instead of having to rely on others,” she said.
We hope you’ll help us celebrate the Mobile Library’s arrival at a launch party at noon, July 6, on the south parking lot of the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.
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