Baldwin County Bookmobile continues 40 year tradition

Baldwin County Bookmobile continues 40 year tradition

The Baldwin County Library recently celebrated National Bookmobile Day by unveiling the new Baldwin County Bookmobile. For over 40 years, the Baldwin County Bookmobile has delivered information, technology, and resources for life-long learning to Baldwin County citizens from all walks of life.
“We run the bookmobile on a two week schedule which means that we visit one group of patrons one week and another group of patrons the second week,’’ said Baldwin County Library Director Liz Reed. “This allow patrons to check books out and have them for two weeks and return them when the Bookmobile returns to that stop in two weeks.’’
The Baldwin County Bookmobile travels 300 miles each week bringing books, movies, audio books, wifi and music to residents who cannot travel to a public library. Patrons include people in retirement centers, children in day care and out of the way spots that are too far for residents to travel to a municipal public library.
The new Bookmobile (above) is a 2008 Mercedes Sprinter van with low mileage. The van began its life as a mobile brain trauma unit. The Baldwin County Library purchased the bus with a grant from Impact 100 Baldwin County and had it refurbished by Mobile Genius Clinic. Local artist Daryl Evans with Rogue Creative designed the graphics. The bus offers a collection of 1,500 books, cds and dvds and maintains a schedule which allows the Bookmobile to visit each stop every two weeks.
“The new bookmobile is a local effort,” said Liz Reed, director of the Baldwin County Library. “The funding came from Impact 100 of Baldwin County, an organization that awards grants to local 501(c) 3 organizations. The graphics were designed by local artist Daryl Evans, and Ray and Gloria Shores, the former bookmobile library assistants, are back to administer the new program.”
Libraries are the heart of every community. As a vital part of our library, bookmobiles bring valuable resources to library patrons. The Baldwin County Bookmobile serves people of all backgrounds, providing access to almost every service that patrons find in the library, including readers advisory services, access to new and classic literature, movies and music.
Part of National Library Week, National Bookmobile Day is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).
For more information, visit the Baldwin County Library Cooperative at 22251 Palmer Street, or call 251-970-4010 or see the library’s web site at www.baldwincountylibrary.org
The Baldwin County Library Cooperative consists of the Bay Minette Public Library, Daphne Public Library, Elberta Public Library, Fairhope Public Library, Foley Public Library, Thomas B. Norton Public Library in Gulf Shores, Loxley Public Library, Magnolia Springs Public Library, Orange Beach Public Library, Robertsdale Public Library, Oscar Johnson Memorial Library in Silverhill, Spanish Fort Public Library and the Marjorie Younce Snook Public Library in Summerdale.

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Bookmobile Schedule
Tuesdays: May 1, 15 & 29; June 12 & 26
Gulf Shores – Holy Spirit – 9:00- 9:45
Bon Secour – Swift School and Church – 10:00 – 10:10
Fish River – Pecan Drive – 11:15 – 11:30
Fairhope – The Brennity – 11:40 -11:45
Malbis – Baldwin House Assisted Living – 1:30 – 1:45
Daphne – The Brennity – 2:00 – 2:15
Daphne – The Gardens – 2:30 – 2:45

Wednesdays: May 2, 16 & 30; June 13 & 27
Gulf Shores – The Haven – 8:45 – 9:00
Foley – Country Place Senior Living – 9:30 – 10:00
Foley – Cradle 2 Crayon – 10:10 – 10:20
Foley – ARC/Foley – 10:30- 11:00
Foley – Live Oak – 1:00 – 1:30

Thursdays: May 3, 17 & 31; June 14 & 28
Robertsdale – Childcare Center – 9:00 – 9:45
Robertsdale – Robertsdale Health Care Center – 10:05 – 10:20
Robertsdale – ARCBC/Activity Center/ Robertsdale – 10:35-11:10
Montrose – Harrel Residence – 12:45 – 1:00
Fairhope – Homestead Village – 1:15- 1:45
Fairhope – Fairhope Senior Housing – 1:50 – 2:20

Tuesdays: May 8 & 22; June 12 & 26
Orange Beach – Discovery Island – 8:45- 9:15
Miflin – Swift Presbyterian School – 9:40 – 10:00
Elberta – Good Shepherd Lutheran – 10:15 – 10:45
Perdido Beach – Fire Station – 1:00 – 11:15
Lillian – Perdido Bay Library – 12:30 – 12:50
Spanish Cove – Club House – 1:10 – 1:40
Seminole – Pride Service Station – 2:10 – 2:40

Wednesdays: April 25; May 9 & 23; June 13 & 27
Bay Minette – Green State Veteran’s Home – 9:30 – 10:00
Stockton – Stockton Community Center – 10:30 – 10:45
Stockton – Hubbards Landing – 11:00 – 11:30
Little River – Little River Sail Center – 12:00- 12:20
Little River – Ferguson Store – 12:30 – 12:45
Bay Minette- Oakwood – 1:00 – 1:15

Thursdays: April 26; May 10 & 24; June 14 & 28
Fairhope – Neighborhood School – 9:00 – 9:45
Fairhope – E.S. Academy of Excellence – 10:00 – 10:15
Fairhope – Headstart – 10:20 – 11:00
Spanish Fort – Westminister Village – 12:30 – 1:30
Malbis – The Blake – 2:00 – 2:30