The Bookmobile
“Library
on Wheels!”
- In 1953, Bookmobile service began,
reaching the remote villages using a panel truck.
- The old Bookmobile continued as
best it could but it was hampered by age and unavailability of parts on island.
- In 1990, a Thomas Built bookmobile
was purchased and continued serving the community but was later grounded for
several years due to lack of funding and personnel.
- In 2004, through the efforts of
First Lady Joann Camacho, the Bookmobile Foundation of Guam and public-private
partnerships with the generous donated resources from Matson Navigation Company
and Alexander & Baldwin, the Bookmobile was repaired and operated at no
cost to the taxpayers of Guam.
- South Pacific Petroleum
Corporation (76/Circle K) has generously donated the fuel to run the
Bookmobile.
- Matson continues to provide
maintenance to also keep the Bookmobile running.
The Bookmobile travels to forty (40)
stops in its two-week route and holds books for people of all ages.
For patrons with branch libraries
out of reach, the Bookmobile patrons may call the libraries in advance to
reserve materials or make Reference requests.
This is done by patrons calling the libraries before the Bookmobile
leaves on its daily routes. Materials
may then be made available for patron pickup at the patron’s scheduled
Bookmobile stop, or nearest scheduled stop, which are all done on the same
day.
The
Bookmobile’s return has indeed been a great success because of the
inaccessibility of the temporary closures of the four branch libraries.
During the time
the Bookmobile was non-operational, patrons (registered members) of the
Bookmobile had to travel to the two only opened libraries. These were the Dededo library located in the
northern end of the island; and the Nieves Flores Memorial Library, Main Branch
in Agana
This can be difficult for patrons without reliable transportation.
located in the central part of the island.
To date, even with all six of the
Guam Public Library System libraries open, the Bookmobile continues to service all
villages especially without an open branch library and in some remote areas on
island.
The Bookmobile also services
locations such as the Guma Trankilidat,
Guma Manamko, GHURA housing units, private schools, Guam Premier Outlets and
apartment complexes.
To further promote literacy, the
Bookmobile provides “Bookmobile Tours” to the Guam Public School System,
children’s daycares, pre-schools and interested organizations. The Bookmobile is also available for community
events held at various malls on island and other villages.
Presently, the Library continues
to grow, expand, and often struggle to remain up- to-date and current in the
library world. Nevertheless, the Library
is now more than ever committed to serving the people of Guam
and providing them with quality educational, informational, and recreational
materials and programs. The Bookmobile
playing an important part to help Guam’s
public library achieve some of its literacy outreach program with its “Library on Wheels!”