A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. Mobile libraries are often used to provide library services to villages and city suburbs that have no library buildings. They can also service groups of those who have difficulty accessing libraries, e.g., occupants of retirement homes. They may also carry other information or computer equipment. Some libraries also use their bookmobiles to deliver materials, such as audio books and large print novels, to homebound people who do not have anyone to go to the library for them.
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The British Workman reported in 1857[1] on a perambulating library operating in a circle of eight villages in Cumbria, including Mealsgate, the birthplace of George Moore,[2] the Victorian merchant and philanthropist who was the President of the Committee managing this Scheme designed to "diffuse good literature among the rural population". The Warrington Perambulating Library set up in 1858 was another early British mobile library. This horse-drawn van was operated by the Warrington Mechanics' Institute, which was anxious to increase the borrowing of its books.[3]
An early bookmobile in the United States was a mule-drawn wagon which carried wooden boxes of books in Chester County, SC. The People's Free Library started this service to the rural areas of Chester County around 1904.[4]
Another early American bookmobile was developed by Mary Lemist Titcomb[5] (1857–1932). The librarian at the Washington County, Maryland Free Library, Titcomb was concerned that the library was not reaching all of the people it could. The annual report for 1902 lists "23 branches", collections of 50 books in a case placed in stores and post offices around the county.[6] Realizing this still failed to reach all of the county's rural residents, in 1905 the Washington County Free Library provided one of the first American book wagons to residents by taking the books directly to their homes in remote parts of the county.[7]
The Gerstenslager company specialized in building mobile libraries and similar vehicles in the 1950s.
The Internet Archive Bookmobile prints out-of-copyright books on demand, and in whatever type size is desired. The project has spun off similar efforts elsewhere in the developing world.[8]
To meet the growing demand for "greener" bookmobiles that deliver outreach services to their patrons, some bookmobile manufacturers have introduced significant advances that reduce carbon footprint such as solar/battery solutions over traditional generators, and all-electric and hybrid electric chassis.
Bookmobiles are used in many countries, but a mobile library can be run without a vehicle. Examples include: