Have fond memories of the Bookmobile? It could be coming back

It’s been more than 20 years since a Bookmobile tooled around Beaufort County delivering reading material to folks who couldn’t go to the library.

Now the county is working to put the program on the road again.

Beaufort County Library System Director Ray McBride presented a plan to county leaders earlier this week.

County administrator Gary Kubic said his staff supports the concept, saying it will benefit the community by allowing “people to expand their reading opportunities.”

The library system has grown in recent decades, adding new programs and branches both north and south of the Broad River.

But there are still residents who have difficulty accessing library services, county officials say.

The Bookmobile “would be going out into the communities” to provide services to residents in remote areas, people with disabilities, young children with working parents, new immigrants unfamiliar with the library system, and people without transportation, McBride said.

The vehicle would have predetermined locations throughout the county where it will park and distribute books, but it could also make house calls.

“People in remote areas can go online, reserve books and we could deliver them,” McBride said.

The vehicle would be able to carry and distribute about 2,500 books.

In addition to a large collection of reading material, the vehicle would house several computer terminals, a printer, a scanner and a television, McBride said.

It “would truly be, from our perspective, a multipurpose, multifunction vehicle,” he said.

In addition to practical applications, the Bookmobile “would be excellent public relations for the library system” because of its “high visibility in the community,” McBride said.

The county’s Bookmobile program began in 1958 and operated until 1993.

County Councilwoman Alice Howard said the program was “a great thing to have.”

“I grew up in a rural area, and I would go to the Bookmobile (as a child),” she said. “I have fond memories of watching it drive up.”

County officials estimate the vehicle, books and technology would cost about $180,000, which could be paid for using impact fees, which are collected on new development to help pay for roads, fire service, libraries and parks.

Operations of the program — estimated at roughly $73,000 a year — would be paid for out of the fiscal year 2017 library budget, which is currently making its way through the Beaufort County Council’s annual approval process. The new budget must be approved before July 1.

Once the funding is finalized, the county will likely seek bids for the vehicle and equipment, Kubic said.

Library officials have yet to identify a target date for getting the Bookmobile on the road.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Have fond memories of the Bookmobile? It could be coming back."