Maybe you've seen it around town, or parked in its little spot beside the library, or out in the country on one of its many routes.
It's a bus with a couple of air conditioner units on top, a couple of side windows and back window, and two really neat ladies who take it to our away-patrons, Miss Sheila and Miss Amanda. (We use Miss in the South to denote respect for our ladies.)
It's the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library's bookmobile. (And I usually capitalize the word "bookmobile" because of my great respect for it, too.)
Our Bookmobile had for many years been painted red, white and blue. Paint was the way to refresh the look whenever needed. But lately, a new thing has been happening not only to Bookmobiles, but semi-truck rigs, city buses, cars, and a host of other traveling machines. (We won't count the knit-wrapped bicycles.)
When Melody Jenkins, our since-retired director, approached Sunbelt Signs, Inc. with the idea of redesigning our Bookmobile, she envisioned the bus with bright colors, a beautiful landscape on it, little children reading, and a bunch of books.
Well, the sign company went out of their way to please her. It dreamed up a "wrap" that looks like something out of a storybook. The new look shows people reading their books in a field where trees made of books grow. The name "Bookmobile" is in large letters on the bus, easy for people to read. There is a larger-than-life bookshelf wrapped all around the bottom of the bus, stacked with colorful books.
Many people along the routes that the Bookmobile travels thought there was a new bus coming their way. But with several budget cuts at the library, no new bus was on the library horizon. Instead, this clever graphic wrap has given our Bookmobile a new life, a new look, and a new talk about town.
The next time you're by our library at 204 Fifth Street, Southeast, in Moultrie, see if it's parked in its corner spot and admire the gorgeous new look. However, chances are it won't be there. You see, our Bookmobile librarians, Miss Sheila and Miss Amanda, are often out and about on their many routes, taking books to home-bound patrons and schools.
But if you're interested in knowing about the Bookmobile's routes, call the library for more information at 229-985-6540. Be sure to ask for the Bookmobile librarians...they have all that information. If they're out, be sure to leave your name and number so they can return the call.
And if I were you and I was on one of their routes, I'd have my camera ready to take a picture of the storybook Bookmobile. It's a delightful sight to behold!!!
Showing posts with label Bookmobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookmobile. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
What are you doing April 8th through the 14th?
We hope you'll be at our library! That's the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library at 204 5th Street, Southeast, in Moultrie, Georgia. (Or you can visit in the same building our Odom Genealogical Library or our Doerun Municipal Library at 185 North Freeman Street in Doerun, Georgia.)
You see, that's the week we celebrate National Library Week.
This special Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (commonly called the ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It's a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use.
Every day across the country, libraries open their doors to everyone: students, parents, seniors, teachers, writers, artists, job seekers, entrepreneurs, readers, gamers, movie lovers, and travel buffs.
"Without librarians, I wouldn't be a writer today," bestselling author and Honorary Chair of National Library Week, Brad Meltzer says about the impact of libraries on his life. (You can find several of his books in our library.)
Also, spending quality time with our kids and teens is critical to their growth and development - and it fosters strong bonds and relationships. But, in our fast-paced lives, finding opportunities for quality time together can be a daily challenge. (In fact, one way to help our teens is the newly created Teen Library Board. For more information, contact Michele Croft, Children's Library Coordinator.)
We're working and commuting longer hours. Our kids' schedules are packed. Budgets are tight. And planning even small outings takes time and energy.
Fortunately, there are a variety of things to do, new adventures to begin, and amazing things to learn - right at your library. (Keep your eyes open for more information about our upcoming, new adult book club, "Between the Covers.")
And libraries are the place to connect with your kids. School and public libraries open up new worlds, spark imagination, encourage reading, help develop critical thinking, and prepare and support kids and teens in school and life. (Sign-up for the Children's Reading Program in June is all during May.)
And most of the materials and programs available at your library are free! (You can receive a free library card just by asking staff at the front counter.)
On Tuesday, April 10th, we will be celebrating National Library Workers Day. Our theme for this year is "Libraries Work Because We Do!" Stop by and say hello, let us know you appreciate having a library card and this public library which is available to you.
On Wednesday, April 11th, we'll give thanks to Holly and Sheila, our Bookmobile staff, as we celebrate National Bookmobile Day. After all, if it weren't for them, many people in our surrounding community, who can't make it to the library, would not have good reading material. They begin their routes again the last of this month after a brief break from traveling.
And I want to mention a couple of wonderful accomplishments by two of our staff members. Holly Philips and Michele Croft will receive their Masters in Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University on May 5th. Congratulations, ladies! We are so proud of you.
Remember National Library Week, April 8th through 14th. "You Belong @ the Library." We'll be looking for you.
You see, that's the week we celebrate National Library Week.
This special Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (commonly called the ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It's a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use.
Every day across the country, libraries open their doors to everyone: students, parents, seniors, teachers, writers, artists, job seekers, entrepreneurs, readers, gamers, movie lovers, and travel buffs.
"Without librarians, I wouldn't be a writer today," bestselling author and Honorary Chair of National Library Week, Brad Meltzer says about the impact of libraries on his life. (You can find several of his books in our library.)
Also, spending quality time with our kids and teens is critical to their growth and development - and it fosters strong bonds and relationships. But, in our fast-paced lives, finding opportunities for quality time together can be a daily challenge. (In fact, one way to help our teens is the newly created Teen Library Board. For more information, contact Michele Croft, Children's Library Coordinator.)
We're working and commuting longer hours. Our kids' schedules are packed. Budgets are tight. And planning even small outings takes time and energy.
Fortunately, there are a variety of things to do, new adventures to begin, and amazing things to learn - right at your library. (Keep your eyes open for more information about our upcoming, new adult book club, "Between the Covers.")
And libraries are the place to connect with your kids. School and public libraries open up new worlds, spark imagination, encourage reading, help develop critical thinking, and prepare and support kids and teens in school and life. (Sign-up for the Children's Reading Program in June is all during May.)
And most of the materials and programs available at your library are free! (You can receive a free library card just by asking staff at the front counter.)
On Tuesday, April 10th, we will be celebrating National Library Workers Day. Our theme for this year is "Libraries Work Because We Do!" Stop by and say hello, let us know you appreciate having a library card and this public library which is available to you.
On Wednesday, April 11th, we'll give thanks to Holly and Sheila, our Bookmobile staff, as we celebrate National Bookmobile Day. After all, if it weren't for them, many people in our surrounding community, who can't make it to the library, would not have good reading material. They begin their routes again the last of this month after a brief break from traveling.
And I want to mention a couple of wonderful accomplishments by two of our staff members. Holly Philips and Michele Croft will receive their Masters in Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University on May 5th. Congratulations, ladies! We are so proud of you.
Remember National Library Week, April 8th through 14th. "You Belong @ the Library." We'll be looking for you.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Our Bookmobile and its unsung heroes
Our library has a couple of unsung heroes. Well, to me, that is. I guess it's because Sheila and Holly have an office at the back corner of the Children's Library, close to Bookmobile stacks (bookshelves).
The Bookmobile library was placed in the renovated three-bay garage when the Children's Library was moved to its present location. So...because Sheila and Holly are at one end of the main library and I'm at the other, I don't see them very often. Unless, of course, they're working at the circulation desk on the days they aren't on the road.
The Bookmobile library is just one of four libraries in the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System. Not many people think of it that way, but the system has the Bookmobile and main library (headquarters), as well as the Doerun Municipal Library and the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogical Library.
The Bookmobile library (housed in the main library) is not a library just everyone can visit, like the others. It's actually the place where there are seven long, long stacks of over 20,000 books for Bookmobile patrons. The Bookmobile, itself, also holds over 2,500 books...the library on wheels with our unsung heroes, Sheila and Holly, taking it all over the county.
They told me they just finished their first run for June. They covered nine routes with approximately 15 stops per day, serving approximately 150 people each day. (Can you imagine how hot it was out there on all those roads in our 100-degree South Georgia weather?) Holly said their turnover is about every six weeks, with a week or two in between runs to catch up on office work and other stuff.
They'll have their second run after the July 4th holiday, starting on July 11th. Their final run for the summer will be July 25th, because when August comes around and school starts, they will begin their school runs also, bringing their routes up to a total of fourteen.
Holly told me a little something special about Sheila. I found out she's an exceptional Bookmobile librarian. Because she knows the adult patrons on her routes so well, she often bags pre-selected books for them. She knows exactly what kind of books they like. And since one little boy loves alligators, they bag "alligator" books especially for him! Now, that is personalized attention! In fact, Holly said Sheila is so organized she will have bags of books stacked in the Bookmobile library ahead of time, just waiting to be put on the Bookmobile and delivered to their patrons on each route they take.
Sheila said they have over 100 children this year on the summer routes. She and Holly call the patrons a day ahead of when they plan to be in their area and then again when they reach the designated stopping place. The mix of patrons is about half and half of adults and children. The children also include the young adults, ages 12 to about 18. There are less than ten men who are patrons, making the majority women and, I suppose, lots of children. The limit of books to check out is 25 per person and patrons are allowed to keep the books for six weeks.
Sheila recently took a trip to Jacksonville to Mumford Library Books to purchase new books for the Bookmobile, most of which were children's and young adults' books. You can bet her patrons look forward to their new selections for summer reading.
Just remember, the next time you see our Bookmobile sitting beside the library, it's not a permanent fixture. Remember it has wheels and travels the county with Sheila and Holly taking books to the many patrons who watch for them. You can bet your bottom dollar, those people don't think of our Bookmobile librarians as unsung heroes. They sing their praises as they hollar: "Here they come! Here they come!"
If you have a hard time obtaining library books and need assistance, call the library at 985-6540 and ask for Sheila or Holly. They'll see what they can do to get books to you, because they're good at their jobs!
The Bookmobile library was placed in the renovated three-bay garage when the Children's Library was moved to its present location. So...because Sheila and Holly are at one end of the main library and I'm at the other, I don't see them very often. Unless, of course, they're working at the circulation desk on the days they aren't on the road.
The Bookmobile library is just one of four libraries in the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System. Not many people think of it that way, but the system has the Bookmobile and main library (headquarters), as well as the Doerun Municipal Library and the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogical Library.
The Bookmobile library (housed in the main library) is not a library just everyone can visit, like the others. It's actually the place where there are seven long, long stacks of over 20,000 books for Bookmobile patrons. The Bookmobile, itself, also holds over 2,500 books...the library on wheels with our unsung heroes, Sheila and Holly, taking it all over the county.
They told me they just finished their first run for June. They covered nine routes with approximately 15 stops per day, serving approximately 150 people each day. (Can you imagine how hot it was out there on all those roads in our 100-degree South Georgia weather?) Holly said their turnover is about every six weeks, with a week or two in between runs to catch up on office work and other stuff.
They'll have their second run after the July 4th holiday, starting on July 11th. Their final run for the summer will be July 25th, because when August comes around and school starts, they will begin their school runs also, bringing their routes up to a total of fourteen.
Holly told me a little something special about Sheila. I found out she's an exceptional Bookmobile librarian. Because she knows the adult patrons on her routes so well, she often bags pre-selected books for them. She knows exactly what kind of books they like. And since one little boy loves alligators, they bag "alligator" books especially for him! Now, that is personalized attention! In fact, Holly said Sheila is so organized she will have bags of books stacked in the Bookmobile library ahead of time, just waiting to be put on the Bookmobile and delivered to their patrons on each route they take.
Sheila said they have over 100 children this year on the summer routes. She and Holly call the patrons a day ahead of when they plan to be in their area and then again when they reach the designated stopping place. The mix of patrons is about half and half of adults and children. The children also include the young adults, ages 12 to about 18. There are less than ten men who are patrons, making the majority women and, I suppose, lots of children. The limit of books to check out is 25 per person and patrons are allowed to keep the books for six weeks.
Sheila recently took a trip to Jacksonville to Mumford Library Books to purchase new books for the Bookmobile, most of which were children's and young adults' books. You can bet her patrons look forward to their new selections for summer reading.
Just remember, the next time you see our Bookmobile sitting beside the library, it's not a permanent fixture. Remember it has wheels and travels the county with Sheila and Holly taking books to the many patrons who watch for them. You can bet your bottom dollar, those people don't think of our Bookmobile librarians as unsung heroes. They sing their praises as they hollar: "Here they come! Here they come!"
If you have a hard time obtaining library books and need assistance, call the library at 985-6540 and ask for Sheila or Holly. They'll see what they can do to get books to you, because they're good at their jobs!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Bookmobile Is On The Summer Road Again
Sheila and Holly are on the road again with the Bookmobile and they're signing up children for the Summer Reading Fun Program. Once signed up, children receive a bag full of reading materials and can start counting the books they read during the summer. We're hoping they read tons of books.
Sheila said they have 50 children signed up so far, but it's still early. They've finished six routes and have a few more to go.
Their schedule reads like a road map and takes them all the way through July 27th. Look at the places they cover (and I'm going to give you the whole list):
Bay, Rosehill & Hartsfield
Culbertson
Berlin & Reedy Creek
Rockhill & Midway
Crosland & New Hope
Coolsprings & Ellenton
Centerhill & Hamilton
Doerun & Sigsbee
Sunset & Autreyville
Funston
Norman Park
Oakdale & New Elm.
If coming to the library is difficult for you and your children, and you're on one of these routes, and you still want to check out library books, call Sheila or Holly at 229-985-6540. They'll see about adding you to the route list.
And when you're on that list, it's like watching for the ice cream truck when you look for the red, white and blue Moultrie-Colquitt County Library's Bookmobile. Yummy things are inside!
Sheila said they have 50 children signed up so far, but it's still early. They've finished six routes and have a few more to go.
Their schedule reads like a road map and takes them all the way through July 27th. Look at the places they cover (and I'm going to give you the whole list):
Bay, Rosehill & Hartsfield
Culbertson
Berlin & Reedy Creek
Rockhill & Midway
Crosland & New Hope
Coolsprings & Ellenton
Centerhill & Hamilton
Doerun & Sigsbee
Sunset & Autreyville
Funston
Norman Park
Oakdale & New Elm.
If coming to the library is difficult for you and your children, and you're on one of these routes, and you still want to check out library books, call Sheila or Holly at 229-985-6540. They'll see about adding you to the route list.
And when you're on that list, it's like watching for the ice cream truck when you look for the red, white and blue Moultrie-Colquitt County Library's Bookmobile. Yummy things are inside!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
What's Been Happening With The Bookmobile Lately?
Josh was sitting at the circulation desk the other morning when I came in. Just seeing him made me wonder what's been happening with the Bookmobile lately. So, I asked. Boy did he have lots to say!
"We've discovered hundreds and hundreds of our children's books are AR (Accelerated Reader) and Joel, our volunteer, has helped us label them. This has helped us out tremendously as most schools only want AR books.
"Also, we have several new books and series in the Bookmobile now. Children's books include Gordon Korman's On the Run and Kidnapped series, as well as the fourth installment of the Sisters Grim: Once Upon a Crime. The Ulysses Moore, Artemis Fowl, and Inheritance (think Eragon and Eldest) series are new additions, too. And we now have all five of the Spiderwick Chronicles.
"We are constantly adding adult fiction books and have rearranged the adult fiction section of the Bookmobile. We are carrying more titles from authors like John Grisham, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, and Stuart Woods.
"More noteworthy is that the Christian Fiction section, which has had an incredible amount of usage, has expanded. There are now about two-and-a-half as many Christian Fiction books onboard. We've actually had to order extra copies by authors such as Kingsbury to keep up with the demand."
So, now you know how busy the Bookmobile is. And if you're on one of their routes, be watching for the red, white and blue bus. Sheila and Josh are working hard to bring great books to you for your enjoyment.
"We've discovered hundreds and hundreds of our children's books are AR (Accelerated Reader) and Joel, our volunteer, has helped us label them. This has helped us out tremendously as most schools only want AR books.
"Also, we have several new books and series in the Bookmobile now. Children's books include Gordon Korman's On the Run and Kidnapped series, as well as the fourth installment of the Sisters Grim: Once Upon a Crime. The Ulysses Moore, Artemis Fowl, and Inheritance (think Eragon and Eldest) series are new additions, too. And we now have all five of the Spiderwick Chronicles.
"We are constantly adding adult fiction books and have rearranged the adult fiction section of the Bookmobile. We are carrying more titles from authors like John Grisham, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, and Stuart Woods.
"More noteworthy is that the Christian Fiction section, which has had an incredible amount of usage, has expanded. There are now about two-and-a-half as many Christian Fiction books onboard. We've actually had to order extra copies by authors such as Kingsbury to keep up with the demand."
So, now you know how busy the Bookmobile is. And if you're on one of their routes, be watching for the red, white and blue bus. Sheila and Josh are working hard to bring great books to you for your enjoyment.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
A New Face at the Library
We have a new Bookmobile Clerk. His name is Josh and he began August 1. His job will be to help Sheila when the Bookmobile goes on the home and school routes. He will load and unload books, use the computer, go to school rooms and talk with teachers, help the patrons, and eventually learn to drive the Bookmobile. Sheila said they start their home routes on August 20, with school routes following August 27. So, welcome, Josh! Glad to have you aboard!
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