The Library System of Lancaster System has a new bookmobile – The Possibility Machine!

The new Bookmobile has been in production for the past several months and will replace the current bookmobile that has served Lancaster County residents for the past 17 years.  Purchase of the new vehicle was made possible by the support of foundations, local businesses, Extra Give donations, the System Board, and individual contributions from the community at large.  The funds of $165,000, acquired during the year-long Capital Campaign, will pay for the bookmobile, vehicle graphics, and special book carts.  The campaign goal was reached in time for the March delivery date.

The new bookmobile was unveiled at a Donor Appreciation Celebration held on April 8th at the Manheim Township Public Library.

The County Commissioners had given their endorsement of the purchase via a signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Library System and the County.  This support allowed the System to move ahead with the acquisition.  Commissioner Dennis Stuckey was very pleased to learn that the capital campaign goal was met, “On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I thank all who donated towards the new Bookmobile.  Congratulations to the Library System and Executive Director Bonnie Young for taking on the task of raising the funds.  Well done!”

Kim Smith and her design team of TCGAD Advertising & Design created the whimsical elements in the new design, which incorporates the communities that are served by the Bookmobile.  There are also book titles in the design that relate to bookmobiles.

In 2016 the Bookmobile celebrated its 75th anniversary.  During those years, the Bookmobile provided library services to persons who have trouble accessing libraries.  The acquisition of the new bookmobile will insure that this valuable service will continue and it will be delivered more efficiently.  The new vehicle is a smaller, more-efficient model that has better fuel efficiency, as well as being more reliable with less downtime and maintenance costs.

Ed Miller and Meredith Hendrix-Jackson inside new bookmobile

Ed Miller, Bookmobile and Special Services Manager for the Library System, is delighted with the expanded capabilities of the new Bookmobile. “The new design will allow the capability of taking our collection, which will be on book carts, inside of the facilities that we visit.”  In the past, patrons would have to come aboard the Bookmobile, either climbing steps or riding a wheelchair lift, making for precarious situations for seniors and cramped storytimes for younger patrons.

“We’ve nicknamed the future vehicle ‘The Possibility Machine,’” says Meredith Hendrix-Jackson, Outreach Librarian and fellow Bookmobile driver, “The obvious possibilities that it will open for us are better access and more flexibility on how we get materials out to the community.”  Expansion of the service to Head Start Centers with the new design’s rolling carts will allow Bookmobile Librarians to get inside the Head Start classrooms for story times.  Also, the provision of curriculum-based materials located on the movable carts will enrich the service to teachers and students.

In addition to expanding services to youth that are served by the Bookmobile, the new design will benefit seniors residing in retirement facilities around the county.  By bringing specifically curated carts of books and movies to retirement home lobbies, more people can peruse extra items.  Hendrix-Jackson anticipates great benefit with the new bookmobile design, “It is anyone’s guess what services we could bring to the community once we’ve knocked back these barriers.”

Although the capital campaign goal for the purchase and design of the new vehicle was reached in time for the March delivery date, the community is invited to subscribe to the “Books on the Go!” Club.  The club allows subscribers to donate monthly contributions at affordable levels, which will support the Bookmobile service to the community.

For more information about the Bookmobile’s past, present and future visit: www.lancasterlibraries.org/capital-campaign/

the Bookmobile’s Mission:
Our highest priorities are to serve low and moderate-income neighborhoods and organizations that serve this population. The Bookmobile stops at over 58 locations in Lancaster County, which include 22 stops at Head Start Centers, preschools, and daycare centers and Amish Schools; 37 monthly stops for Seniors at assisted living facilities, personal care homes, retirement communities and low-income senior apartment buildings.  Bookmobile staff offer storytimes and early literacy programs at the Head Start, preschool and daycare centers during their visits.  At the Bookmobile, you can find high quality fiction and nonfiction for all ages, large print materials, audio books and DVDs.

Read more on Lancaster Online.

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submitted by;

Mary Ann Heltshe-Steinhauer,
PR/Community Relations
Library System of Lancaster County

It’s National Bookmobile Day!