The Bookmobile recently welcomed two new faces to its cast of mobile staffers. This month we introduce you to Becky, who also works in the Library's children's department.
What is it like to work on the Bookmobile? I really enjoy working on the Bookmobile! For my job, I get to visit various preschools and child care centers on the Bookmobile, where I conduct storytimes and assist children in checking out materials that they would like to use in their classroom. I also help out on Thursday afternoons in other areas parts of Iowa City. I like that the Bookmobile offers more variety within my workweek, allowing me to promote literacy and enrichment at locations outside of the library building itself.
What do you love about the Bookmobile? Everything! For me, it’s all about supporting the community and providing access to materials and resources in a way that is easy, convenient, and manageable. The Bookmobile is one creative solution for this goal.
Share a Bookmobile memory. There are quite a few families and children that visit us on the Bookmobile on a regular basis. I remember working at the children’s desk one evening, when one of the Bookmobile regulars, a little boy, came in and saw me working at the desk. He was so surprised to see me at the Library, his mouth hung open and he yelled out, “You work here too?!”
What do you want people to know about the Bookmobile? The Bookmobile is a resource to take advantage of! Since Bookmobile items cannot be placed on hold, there are times where you can pick up a really popular item that you would normally have to wait for at the Library. A lot of individuals also ask about the return policy. Remember that the Bookmobile is all about convenience! You can return downtown items to the Bookmobile and you can return Bookmobile items at the downtown building. Our goal is to simplify your life and make checkouts and returns as easy and carefree as possible.
Bookmobiles bring libraries to the community
The Association for Bookmobile and Outreach Services had its annual conference last month in Omaha, Neb. Two of our Bookmobile staff -- Shawna and Mari -- were among the more than 200 library workers to attend the three-day event.
You can read the highlights of the conference here. As for staff takeaways, we hope to implement some of their ideas in the future!
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, the Bookmobile serves all!
With winter getting closer every day, this is our annual reminder that Bookmobile operations continue when snow is on the ground -- as long as it is safe for staff to drive.
The Bookmobile was built to handle everything Mother Nature throws at it, including road construction, which we all know there was a lot of this summer. Find our current schedule here.
The Bookmobile will be off the road on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Nov. 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Remember, even when the Bookmobile isn’t in service, online services are available 24/7 at www.icpl.org. This includes account access and, for those who live in our service area, access to ICPL’s Digital Library including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, The New York Times and Kanopy video streaming.
