WHAT HAS FOUR WHEELS, A WRAPPER, AND IS FILLED WITH PAPER?

     Can you imagine what it would be like to stand on a two-lane country road in the hot sun and wait for a bus to come along?  Not just any bus, but a bus decorated all around its outside in bright colors and pictures.  Can you imagine how excited your little six-year-old self would be as you see it coming toward you, knowing that as soon as it stops and you climb up the steps, you'll be entering a world of pictures and color and stories?  Can you feel your heart pound with anticipation?  That bus you would be waiting for is The Bookmobile.
     Next week libraries all across the nation will be celebrating National Library Week, April 14 through 20.  Today we want to tell you about bookmobiles and specifically our bookmobile, because Thursday, April 17, is dedicated as National Bookmobile Day.
     Many bookmobiles are not staying around in this day and age.  Some have been turned into labs, complete with satellite Internet access to provide computer training classes.  Some have been turned into traveling museums of local history.  Some library systems are using bookmobiles to expand their children's services with traveling programs.
     An article in a recent edition of the Georgia Public Library Service News stated that Thomas County was home to the first Georgia bookmobile.  In The History of the Public Library of Moultrie, GA, 1906-1965 by Ellen Payne Odom, it was noted that there was a "traveling librarian in 1936."
     Our Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System still uses its bookmobile, which actually began service in 1942.  The bus that is presently being driven was "born" in 1990 and has spent its 23 years traveling a good many back roads.  We have two bookmobile assistants: Sheila, who has been with the bookmobile for 15 years, and Amanda, since 2012.  They cover all of Colquitt County, which includes twelve communities, and travel approximately 375 miles per each route rotation.  The bookmobile serves eight schools, some private schools, and many homeschoolers.  The ladies also take books into homes where patrons are homebound and unable to come out to the bookmobile.
     The bookmobile carries fiction and nonfiction books for adults, audio books (which are checked out from the main library for patrons, as well as large print books), magazines, teen books, and a wide variety of children's books.  Adult readers seem to enjoy fiction, biographies, fantasy, and Christian fiction.  The children love dinosaur and tractor books, nonfiction animal books, and fun craft books.  They not only like the classics like Mother Goose, Curious George, and Clifford the Big Red Dog, but they also like Goosebumps, Junie B. Jones, and Magic Tree House.
     Other services the bookmobile provides include Sheila and Amanda calling patrons to remind them when the bookmobile will travel their route.  Patrons are encouraged to request any material they would like to have delivered to them.  Some patrons are also able to take advantage of their PINES interlibrary loan privileges at that time.
     Also, patrons are able to obtain library cards from the bookmobile.  If they have a card with the main library, it has to be cleared with no fines.  The bookmobile keeps its patrons' cards on the bookmobile, making check-out for its readers more convenient.  It's hoped that in the future the bookmobile will be set up with a Wi-Fi hot spot so they can connect with the main library to check out books or sign up new patrons right in the bookmobile.
     When asked if they had any funny stories to tell about driving the bookmobile, Amanda said, "Learning the bookmobile's turning radius was the most challenging.  And after turning on an incline once and dumping the books from the shelves, I learned quickly to turn wide!"  Sheila's story was a little more intense.  She said, "One time I turned out of a patron's driveway and hit his small ditch.  But at least it was at a farmer's house, so he could come get us out....  Then I had to come in and tell the director about it."  For both ladies, such events have created a special bond between them.
     Now you know what rolls on four wheels, has a wrapper on it, and is filled with paper.  Oh, about that wrapper...Amanda said, "It's interesting to see the expressions from other drivers and their passengers.  The children especially seem to be the most impressed with the graphics."
     Well, I guess if I were a little six-year-old, I would be impressed, too!
     We invite you to visit our library next week, during National Library Week, and say hello to our staff.  Let them know how glad you are that the library is here for you and that you appreciate their help.  They would love to hear from you.
     And the next time you see The Bookmobile on the road, be sure to give the ladies a big wave and smile!  I bet they'll wave back at you!