The first bookmobile service offered in North Carolina was begun in Durham
in 1923. A small one-ton, blue
Chevrolet truck with 600 book capacity was purchased "to service the rural areas
equally as urban ones." During the first years, books were delivered to
Durham County schools and circulated from there. But, in 1929, bookmobile
stops were scheduled at homes, hospitals, and bookdrop stations (service
stations, country stores, etc.). One of the most popular and successful
ways of reaching rural patrons was through the county home demonstration
clubs.
The Durham Colored Library also offered bookmobile service from its early years. Service was begun in 1935 to Negro schools in the county. In 1942, a one-half ton Chevrolet panel truck was purchased to serve outlying Negro communities. In two weeks, it travelled 500 miles and made sixty-four stops.
During these years, there was a distinct line between city/urban and county/rural. Before the automobile was a common possession, before many roads were paved, before television, the bookmobile may well have been the only outside contact many of the people of the community, predominantly farm dwellers, had. Today, the bookmobile serves a much changed community. Private ownership of a suburban home has become the ideal and the automobile a necessity. Paved county roads and superhighways, suburban shopping centers, and television are now the norm. Employment in factory and service jobs as well as in offices have taken the place of farm employment. Women and men both work and children are often left to become more independent.
In 1970, Durham County purchased an eight-ton Gerstenslager bus with a book capacity of 3,000 volumes. Its emphasis was on books for children, especially preschool children, and popular adult fiction and non-fiction. Special services included storytelling and film programs offered at day care centers, nursery schools, and housing projects. In the summer, the bookmobile's juvenile patrons could take part in special summer reading programs offered by the library system. The bookmobile of the 1970's served as an effective way to deliver library services to outlying heavily populated areas until branch libraries could be established there.
In the mid 1980's. Another bookmobile, with the book capacity of 4,000 volumes was purchased and service continued to improve. More branch libraries were built by now and although the neighborhoods changed, emphasis on services remained the same.
It wasn't until August of 1996 that the new 35.3 foot bookmobile with a book capacity of 5,000 was on the road. Bigger than any of the previous bookmobiles in the county, the new vehicle has a minimum headroom of 77", an exterior width of 96", and a height of 11'2" including the air conditioners. It is the first bookmobile in the county to have a built-in wheelchair lift. This fantastic feature is kept hidden behind hinged shelves and can easily be exposed whenever it is needed. There are two desks, one for checkout and one for returns. The computerized catalog and circulation capabilities enhance the modernization of the bookmobile. Durham County Library is very proud of its newest bookmobile.
Last update: March 14, 2007