The Durham County Library Bookmobile provides individualized library service to a diverse population throughout Durham County that otherwise does not have access to library services. The bookmobile is on the road six days a week covering over 200 miles each week. We visit over 70 locations each month, driving on highways and back country roads. Although we serve all sectors of the Durham population, our focus is on three major groups: preschools and daycares, Durham public housing neighborhoods, and outlying neighborhoods and shopping centers not located near a branch library.
Preschools and Daycares
The morning schedule is devoted to meeting the library needs of preschool children. Many young children do not have the opportunity to get exposure to reading and books and the bookmobile provides these children their first exposure to the joys of reading. Children love climbing up into the large vehicle and choosing their own books. Preschool teachers rely on the bookmobile staff to make age appropriate book selections for the children, and to bring special subject books to coincide with their lesson plans. Bookmobile staff enhance the preschool's curriculum by providing storytelling programs at many of the daycares. Staff tell animated stories to the youngsters helping to develop their reading readiness skills and excitement for reading.
Durham
Public Housing Neighborhoods
Afternoon stops target areas full of school-aged children who live in high-density, low income areas in Durham. Staff work closely with the children, encouraging selection of materials that coincide with their school studies, constantly reinforcing the importance of education. In an effort to encourage more reading, the bookmobile staff conducts a reading program each year targeting children in 12 public housing neighborhoods. More than 300 children have participated in each program, and staff have found the children's enthusiasm overwhelming. The City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Durham Housing Authority have seen its positive effects and now co-sponsor the program.
To keep the children involved in books and reading during the summer months, the bookmobile offers the Summer Reading program and the Reading is Fundamental book distribution at the public housing neighborhoods. Both of these programs stress the joy and importance of reading and offer incentives to encourage children to read. Our Reading is Fundamental program has been so successful that we received a grant from the Heinz Co. to supplement the funds we receive from the Friends of the Library for the purchase of books for free giveaway to the children.
Outlying
Communities and Shopping Centers
Many people in outlying communities rely on the bookmobile to meet their library needs. The bookmobile regularly visits these neighborhoods in the early evening and Saturdays to bring services to working parents, families and older adults. The Bookmobile now has regular stops at apartment complexes heavily populated with Spanish-speaking residents. Bilingual books and boks in Spanish are on board to serve the needs of people in Hispanic neighborhoods. We are always happy to have new patrons visiting us at community stops and hope to make regular patrons out of new ones.
For more information,
reserves,or requests,
please call us at 560-0155 or 0154.
Books checked out on the Bookmobile are free. All you need is a library card! Patrons can get registered for a free library card while on the bookmobile. Books checkedout from the Bookmobile can be returned to any branch. Books checked out at another branch can likewise be returned to the Bookmobile.
Last update: March 14, 2007