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Hopefully you've visited the bookmobile on a Saturday morning. To learn more about them we asked Hillary Theyer, Monterey County Free Library Director:
Bookmobiles have a proud history in serving Monterey County. The first County Librarian, Anne Hadden, founded libraries doing delivery by wagon, train, and muleback. For many rural communities, the Librarian bringing books and library items was their only personal contact with the County, with the deliveries bringing clothing, news, and medicine along with books and library materials.
Monterey County Free Libraries operates three bookmobiles. The North County Bookmobile, newest in the fleet, visits East Garrison. It is a custom body built onto a Ford truck chassis, and has solar panels and batteries that can run all the internal components (lights, air conditioning, computer) without turning on the engine or running a loud and fume creating exterior generator. This vehicle serves Pajaro through Spreckles with stops in Moss Landing, Carmel Highlands, Pebble Beach, Toro Park, and other places. Stops can be anywhere from adjacent to a park, a school parking lot, a community center, or an intersection. There is a South County Bookmobile serving Chualar through Bradley, and a smaller vehicle called the "Lean Green Reading Machine" that brings a children's collection and programs to schools and events.
Each bookmobile brings its own internet, with a robust connection that can hop among three providers as it moves around the County. The South County Bookmobile served as emergency internet access for the King City Fairgrounds when during a disaster and serving as an evacuation point, their internet access went down. Each vehicle can also "shoreline" to a building, letting the building power the internal components if the vehicle will be there for an extended period and cannot be driven for the engine to recharge the batteries.
Services available via bookmobile include all borrowing (getting a card, checking out, returns, browsing) and anyone can place holds to pick up on the bookmobile. Our staff can answer questions, do internet searches, place holds, and connect people with other services. During Summer Reading Club, we also ensure that bookmobiles have programs and activities. This may depend on the nature and amenities of each stop.
The bookmobile is among the most fragile of services. Because the vehicles are high in profile and we have to bring them to you, weather can be a reason we need to cancel a stop. The vehicles need to go in for regular maintenance, plus any other repairs, so stops may be cancelled due to the vehicle being unavailable. Depending on the notice, nature, and duration staff may bring holds in another vehicle and take returns, use a different bookmobile, or cancel the stop.
For stops, see our Calendar of Events and search for Library - Book Mobile North, or Library - Book Mobile South.
MCFL Calendar | County of Monterey, CA
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