National Bookmobile Day – East Central Regional Library

Today is National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation’s bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality outreach possible in their communities. Bookmobiles provide access to resources for life-long learning for those whom the the joy of visiting a public library may be out of reach.

While East Central Regional Library officially retired its last bookmobile in May 2009, Outreach Services continue by van! Outreach Librarian Tim Olson regularly makes stops in 8 communities (Braham, Onamia, Isanti, Giese, Duquette, Jacobson, Hill City, and McGrath), carrying library materials in bins for patrons to check out. Tim logs an average of 320 miles per week to provide library service through both mounds of snow and staggering heat.

Here’s celebrating the role bookmobile service has played in East Central Regional Library history with a look back at the old bookmobiles.

Stanchfield School students in 1960 eagerly wait to board the East Central Regional Library Bookmobile.

East Central Regional Library bookmobile visiting Cloverton, in Pine County.

East Central Regional Library’s last bookmobile. Purchased in 1996 for $103,000, it was the first new bookmobile in 20 years. It was built on a Bluebird bus chassis, held 3,500 items, had an onboard generator and a lift for accessibility, and it featured an “air ride.”

In 1986, the box from a previous East Central Regional Library bookmobile was mounted on a new truck frame. Because the lights and heat ran off the alternator, it did not run during the coldest months. Nevertheless, this bookmobile logged 298,000 miles during its service.

The current outreach van that delivers library materials to community centers, city and town halls, a depot, church, and pavilion in 8 ECRL communities.

National Bookmobile Day is an opportunity for outreach fans to make their support known. Share your stories and memories of the East Central Regional Library bookmobile and outreach services!

*These items were digitized by the Minnesota Digital Library as part of the Public Library Partnership Project with the Digital Public Library of America. View these and other historical East Central Regional Library images in Minnesota Reflections or DPLA.

One thought on “National Bookmobile Day”

I grew up in a small town in NW Minnesota with a very small school library and where we drove at least 35 miles to the nearest public library. I still remember the few times when a bookmobile visited our little hamlet, bringing with it stories I’d never dreamed of! I wish it had come more often and am certain there is still a terrific need for library outreach services.

*These items were digitized by the Minnesota Digital Library as part of the Public Library Partnership Project with the Digital Public Library of America. View these and other historical East Central Regional Library images in Minnesota Reflections or DPLA.

One thought on “National Bookmobile Day”

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