This photo shows the last bookmobile that the Grand Island Public Library had, until 2009. (Courtesy photo)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele said at his State of the City address on Jan. 12 that the city needed a bookmobile so that more people would have access to the library and its services.
That wish came true when the City Council voted 8-0 March 24 to allocate $70,000 for a library kiosk, which is like a vending machine for library books.
Library Director Celine Swan told the City that the library was asking for permission to apply for a grant from the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation that would cover 40 percent of the cost of the bookmobile, estimated to be between $280,000 and $300,000. The Grand Island Public Library Foundation will help cover the rest of the cost.
The library also has a $10,000 Carnegie grant it received this year. The library received $165,000 from the Moore Trust to purchase new books for the bookmobile.
The library had a bookmobile until 2009, Swan said.
When asked about the cost efficiency of paying for a bookmobile, Swan said it made sense, compared to what she gave as a $20 million cost for a branch library.
The bookmobile can make stops at locations ranging from daycares to nursing homes. It also can serve as a ‘hot spot” for internet access.
She said it will take seven to eight months for the bookmobile to be put together.
In a memo to the City Council, Swan wrote, “Grand Island is growing, and many people cannot make it to the library due to transportation, daycares can’t transport kids, work hours, language barriers, not knowing there is a library, etc.”
“A bookmobile would help to cover stops all across the city to preschools, daycares, neighborhood stops, homeschool stops, schools, apartments, retirement and nursing homes, homebound patrons, parks, businesses, summer reading, events, and much more,” she wrote.
“A bookmobile can help to get books in children’s hands, improve literacy scores, supplement resources, offer Internet service, let patrons know of online resources, and bridge good relationships to get patrons involved in other library and city services,” she wrote.
