Utah State Library Bookmobile Program

Serving rural Utah communities since 1947

Bookmobile Schedules

See the Bookmobile schedule for your county on the "Bookmobiles & Schedules" section of this web site.

The Utah State Bookmobile Program is closed on Monday, February 15th in honor of Presidents' Day.

Books on wheels: Bookmobile ‘has always changed with the times’

By Kim Burgess Published: Sunday, February 7, 2010 2:39 AM CST

Cache Valley bibliophiles have something to cheer about.

The venerable bookmobile has gotten an upgrade, moving into a new, 30-foot truck that offers three times the selection of the cargo van it had occupied since 2008.

Visitors now have plenty of room to browse floor-to-ceiling shelves that boast the latest picture books, novels, non-fiction, DVDs and audiobooks. Since the truck debuted in November, bookmobile librarian Shawn Bliss said it has received rave reviews.

“The reaction has been 100 percent positive,” he said.

That shows in the number of patrons coming in and books taken out. Those figures are up everywhere compared to a year ago and have nearly doubled in some communities.

State librarian Donna Jones Morris, who oversees nine bookmobiles in 14 counties, said that she is happy with the response.

She explained that the van, which was purchased to save money on gas at a time of record fuel prices, had proven to not be meeting customers’ needs.

“It was a good experiment,” she said. “But it just didn’t work to have the small operation.”

Karen Anderson, a teacher at Bear River Head Start, is one of the new bookmobile’s fans. She noted that the truck has better lighting and is more comfortable.

In fact, it’s so spacious that a few kids in her class of 15 have some trouble deciding what to check out.

Five-year-old Anna Poulsen was torn between a picture book on cuddly kittens and another on equally adorable puppies. Finally, she picked puppies, grabbed a free bookmark and rushed back to the Head Start building to look through the book.

Poulsen’s classmates seemed just as excited.

“They have me read the books to them over and over,” said Jami Wilkinson, a teacher’s assistant at Bear River Head Start. “They love having such a variety of books.”

Better selection isn’t the only improvement coming to the library on wheels.

A new computer system is in the works that will allow patrons to renew items and place holds online. Bliss said he hopes to have the Web site up by the summer.

He has also brought the bookmobile into the social networking era with a Facebook page and Twitter account.

Not bad for a service that started in the 1970s.

Morris, the state librarian, noted that the bookmobile has always changed with the times.

“Libraries are dynamic forces,” she said. “They are where people go for information they need. Libraries have become the center of communities. Bookmobiles can provide that to a rural portion of a county.”

Bliss agreed, saying that one of the best parts of his job is connecting with folks from across the valley.

“I serve a great cross section of the population,” he said. “I love to get to know people and watch their kids get older and graduate from picture books to chapter books. It’s rewarding.”

Reader Comments

Following are comments from online Herald Journal readers. In inviting reader comments on the day's news, The Herald Journal is hoping to promote a largely uncensored and free-flowing dialogue among readers. However, any comments deemed potentially libelous or obscene will be removed from the site. Readers wanting to draw editors' attention to possibly inappropriate comments should email managing editor Charles McCollum at cmccollum@hjnews.com or phone 792-7220.

Geezer wrote on Feb 7, 2010 9:19 AM:

" Keep up the good work! This is a real civic asset for Cache Valley. "

stellabajaj wrote on Feb 7, 2010 12:06 PM:

" I love the Bookmobile! I've been using is since I was a kid and now I take my kids. The improvements being made are great. Keep it up! "

Bookmobile library receives new book drop

Mark Williams - The Associated Press | Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:05 am |

Fairview City and the Sanpete County Bookmobile are pleased they have a new book return in front of the Fairview Bookmobile Repository Library.

The Utah State Library purchased the new stainless steel book return and had it delivered to the Bookmobile Repository Library in Fairview.

Fairview City Mayor Jonathan Benson was instrumental in working with local contractor Rich Clayton of Richton Construction who provided free labor and materials for the new pad of cement to set the book return on.

Bookmobile Director, Jim Ericksen said, "We have been waiting a long time for a book return at the repository library. Area patrons will be able to enjoy the convenience of returning library materials at anytime and not have to wait until the repository library is open."

The Sanpete County Bookmobile is a service provided to all county residents. The Bookmobile services most of the elementary and middle schools in the county, it also makes community stops in most cities, towns and outlying areas. The Bookmobile Program is under the direction of the Utah State Library.

To contact the Bookmobile for a current schedule, please call 435-427-9305 or visit us on the web at the "Bookmobiles & Schedules"section of this web site.

Bookmobile Website News

Visits to this site increased by 16% in January. Thanks for visiting and be sure to come back often for new information.

----------------------------------------

Folks from the following countries visited the bookmobile site last month:

Turkey, Malaysia, Canada and Hong Kong!

WELCOME ALL!

We Love Letters!

We at the Utah State Library Bookmobile Program enjoy hearing from our patrons. Here is a sampling of mail we recently received.

"I wish to express my gratitude for the service of the Tooele County Bookmobile. When I moved to Tooele County I saw the bookmobile outside of Stansbury Park Elementary school and wondered what it was. Several months later a new acquaintance was able to explain what the bookmobile was. I soon found myself there every other week, finding wonderful books for my oldest who was 3 at the time and for myself.

I have since expanded my family and they have found the books provided through the bookmobile very enriching. I am so grateful for the opportunity of using interlibrary loan. I've found wonderful books that were the first of a series and just had to read the rest of the stories.

The efforts to reach such extremely isolated communities as well as those close by has always been appreciated. I'm only afraid that our appreciation has not be voiced often enough.

Thank you so very, very much!"

Audra Felt

"I am writing to express my appreciation to you for the efforts you put forth in the running of the bookmobile. I have thoroughly enjoyed our relationship and cannot express enough just how much.

I enjoy the books you have on hand. You are really to be commended for the outstanding work and the way you handle all of my requests. Your helpful attitude is the finest I have seen and you have a true love of the people who use the bookmobile. You are to be congratulated for your professional and courteous work.

I am really looking forward to another year of good reading and continued friendship."

Joyce McAtee
Rush Valley Patron

Bookmobiles in History

America's First Bookmobile

Joshua Thomas and the book wagon.


Creator:Unknown, Rights:Washington County Free Library, Notes: It was reported that the horses names were Dandy and Black Beauty, and that they were stabled at Corderman's Livery Stable in Hagerstown. Date: 1905-1910,Collection Location: Washington County Free Library

"The first bookmobile in the United States was introduced in Washington County, Maryland in 1905. Mary Titcomb, the first librarian of Washington County Free Library, Maryland, considered seriously the need for the library to become a County Library.

Her task was to get books in homes throughout the county, not just in Hagerstown, the county seat. The first step was to send boxes of books on the Library Wagon to the general store or the post office in small towns and villages throughout the county. By 1904 boxes with 30 volumes each were sent to 66 deposit stations, to extend the reach of the library and manage the practical distribution to the books.

Would not a Library Wagon, the outward and visible signs of the service for which the Library stood, do much more in cementing friendship? Would the upkeep of the wagon after the first cost be much more than the present method? Is not Washington County with its good roads especially well adapted for testing an experiment of this kind, for the geography of the County is such that it could be comfortably covered by well planned routes?

These and other aspects of the plan were laid before the Board of Trustees - who approved of the idea, and forthwith the librarian began interviewing wagon makers and trying to elucidate her ideas with pen and pencil.

The first wagon, when finished with shelves on the outside and a place for storage of cases in the center resembled somewhat a cross between a grocer's delivery wagon and the tin peddler’s cart of by gone New England days. Filled with an attractive collection of books and drawn by two horses, with Mr. Thomas the janitor both holding the reins and dispensing the books, it started on its travels in April 1905.

No better method has ever been devised for reaching the dweller in the country. The book goes to the man, not waiting for the man to come to the book."

For further invormation visit: http://www.whilbr.org/itemdetail.aspx?idEntry=104&dtPointer=2

Copyright note: As publicly supported institutions the library systems of Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties do not own the rights to material in their collections. Therefore, they do not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in their collections.

 

The Story of the Red & Blue Bookmobiles

The Unites States Supreme Court, Bookmobiles, State Libraries and Civil Rights

Brown VS. Louisiana, 1966

The Audubon Regional library operated three branches and two bookmobiles. Blacks were not allowed to enter any of the branch libraries. The bookmobiles were segregated: a red one served only whites and a blue one served blacks.

Brown was a black man who entered a library branch with four other blacks and requested a book, "The Story of the Negro." The librarian informed Brown that the book was not available, but that she would request it through the state library, and he could pick it up or have it mailed to him. After the conversation, the men sat down (making no noise or disturbance) and refused to leave. They were arrested "for not leaving a public building when asked to do so by an officer."

Question:  Did the actions of the arresting officer infringe upon Brown's (and his companions') freedom of speech, assembly, and freedom to petition the Government for redress of grievances as protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments?

Conclusion: 

The divided Court found that the actions of the police violated the Constitution. Justice Fortas argued that states may only regulate the use of public facilities in a "reasonably nondiscriminatory manner, equally applicable to all." Maintaining separate library facilities clearly violated this principle. Fortas also reasoned that the demonstration did not disturb the peace of other library patrons or disrupt the library's activities; the time and method of the sit-in were carefully chosen and executed. Justice Black dissented, joined by three other justices. He argued that the First Amendment "does not guarantee to any person the right to use someone else's property, even that owned by government and dedicated to other purposes, as a stage to express dissident ideas."

Decisions

Decision: 5 votes for Brown, 4 vote(s) against
Legal provision: Due Process

Decided: Wednesday, February 23, 1966

Warren

Black

Douglas

Clark

Harlan

Brennan

Stewart

White

Fortas

Judgment of the Court by Justice Abe Fortas

The case resulted in Justice Abe Fortas writing the book "Concerning Dissent and Civil Disobedience" in 1968.

In an unprecedented work, a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court defines the limits and scope of lawful civil disobedience. Justice Abe Fortas tells how nonviolent dissent can successfully achieve revolutionary goals within the law, institutions, and traditions of our democratic society.

©2010 Goodreads Inc

Used with permission by the The Oyez Project® - Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0

Bookmobile Program Praised at Utah State Legislature

“Just a quick comment from a rural perspective. The bookmobile service that provides the opportunity for those folks in rural Utah to be able to have a chance to check out some of those books is just a wonderful service.

I was involved in that for a long time as a county commissioner as you know and saw the tremendous amount of good that that does.  It’s a great program and something without that service the bookmobile service in rural Utah would be very difficult to have those resources available so we appreciate all the work you do.”

Sen. Ralph Okerlund, Co Chair
Economic Development and Revenue Appropriations Subcommittee Meeting
Utah State Legislature, February 1, 2010

Click here to contact us

Click here to take our Customer Service Survey

We strive to provide the best library service possible. Please help us by completing this five minute survey.

Please enjoy the online services described below:

E-audio books from OverDrive are now available from your bookmobile library web site and from Digital Media Collections from Pioneer – Utah's Online Library.

Visit Pioneer for a host of library services delivered via the internet.

Visit the Internet Public Library for additional library services delivered via the internet.

Did you know Utah Bookmobiles travel 150,000 miles each year?

Serve 303 bookmobile stops in 14 Utah Counties?

Serve 89 schools (public, charter and Head Start)

Serve over 200,000 Utah readers?

Bookmobiles in the State Bookmobile fleet offer internet service.

Utah County Bookmobile Welcomes New Librarian

Chad Bartlett has been named the new Bookmobile Librarian in Utah County. Chad came to the Utah County Bookmobile program with three years of successful work in his previous position in San Juan County.

There, he has been instrumental in initiating and implementing the Native American Languages Pilot Project,” says State Librarian Donna Jones Morris.  “The project continues to make a positive, long-lasting impact in the communities served by the bookmobile.”

Among other accomplishments while in San Juan County, Chad introduced the summer reading program and increased interlibrary loan dramatically. Chad increased total checkouts to 30,400 items.  He also introduced the popular DVD collection.

Bookmobiles carry a range of items including picture books, easy readers, non-fiction, mysteries, classics, romance, large print and public computers that give bookmobile users Internet access.

In addition to the Bookmobile, Utah County residents may use the Bookmobile Repository located at the Mapleton City Center.

This collection is sponsored by the Utah State Library Division and Utah County and is located on the main floor at the east end of the City Center. The bookmobile librarian rotates books on and off the truck that serves many communities around Utah County. The collection includes adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction books. There is also a collection of books on audio and CDs as well as DVDs. Internet access is also available.

The catalog of the Bookmobile Library is available at:

Search the Bookmobile
Library Catalog

Repository Library hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10 am to 8 pm
Friday: 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm

See the "Bookmobiles & Schedules" section of this web site for the current Utah County Bookmobile schedule.

New Library Automation System
Serves USL Bookmobile Program

On Monday, November 16 the Utah State Library successfully and on schedule launched it's new library automation system. The system, called "Symphony"automates tedious and time consuming staff functions. The system also provides easy and effective patron access to the library's catalog and other useful information.

The new system automates the Utah State Library, several State agency partner libraries and the USL Bookmobile program.

Utah County and Tooele County are the first bookmobile libraries to implement the new system. Seven additional bookmobile libraries will "Go live" with "Symphony" in the weeks to come.

Your Library Catalog

The new e-library provides access to your library's catalog plus other useful features built in to the library's cataloging system. Take a look by linking to one of our Bookmobile libraries now on line:

Tooele County Bookmobile

Utah County Bookmobile

The USL Bookmobile Program provides library service to over 30,000 patrons in 14 Utah counties where fixed site libraries are not available. Over 220,000 items are available from the fleet of nine bookmobiles, each equipped with satellite based internet service.

Patrons can use the new system anytime via the internet to access the library's catalog, reserve items to be delivered at bookmobile stops, and request materials via inter-library loan. Patrons may also access information via this web site (www.bookmobiles.utah.gov) and Pioneer, Utah's on-line library.

The following State agency libraries are also included in this consortium partnership of 20 State libraries: Division of Administrative Rules (Department of Administrative Services),Lester F. Wire Library(Department of Transportation - Project Development- Research Division), State Archives (Department of Administrative Services),State History (Department of Community and Culture) and the State Law Library (State Courts).

Linda Roholt from USL and Darren Lauber
make last minute preparations on "Go Live" Day.

bookmobiles.utah.gov

is a service of the Utah State Library, the Utah Department of Community & Culture and your local County Government.

Bookmobile Staff Only