Bookmobile History

In 1950, when the Screven County Library was given better quarters through the generosity of the Sylvania Masonic Lodge, the people interested in the library recognized the need for a bookmobile, but there was the problem of money.

The library received support from the state for the purchase of books.  The library staff was paid by contributions from the city and county, and no more funds were available.  In 1952, the Library Board began a campaign to raise money for the purchase of a bookmobile.  Just as the campaign was launched, members of the Sylvania Shrine Club became interested in the project.  At a meeting of the club, the project was presented and the Shriners were asked to contribute what they felt they could.  In approximately ten minutes the Shriners had signed checks for enough to purchase the bookmobile with all the accessories, including heaters, dome lights, and folding chairs.  Some $3,200 was contributed by the Shriners at the meeting.  The bookmobile was ready to begin operation when the regional library was formed.  The first bookmobile service was given to schools in the spring of 1952 and in July, 1952, service to the communities through the bookmobile began.

People in the rural areas, who before the time of the bookmobile had little access to good reading material, eagerly awaited the arrival of the bookmobile.  Collections were left in individual homes, stores and community centers as the need was seen by the librarians.  Stops were also made to individual homes where entire families could enter the bookmobile and select enough books for a month's reading.

On its first round, the bookmobile serviced seven stations in Jenkins County and eleven in Screven County.  Before the year was over, the number began to increase.  In addition, all the schools in both counties were served.  In a few years, the bookmobile was on the road  four days a week. 

The bookmobile was by then a familiar and welcome sight.  No longer was it mistaken for the mobile health unit, the bread truck, or the rolling store as had been the case when it first started.  An actual instance was that of a small boy at a school who refused to go aboard the bookmobile, even at the reassurance of his teacher and the librarian.  He fled, instead, down the road from what he thought was a mobile health unit which had come to "stick him."

In 1958, it was necessary to purchase a new bookmobile to replace the first one.  This was purchased chiefly with the professional librarians' unused travel funds, which had been placed in a sinking fund for this purpose.

In 1965, it was again necessary to replace the bookmobile.  This one was bought with a combination of funds - unused travel, LSCA, and local money.  However, the unused travel and LSCA can no longer be used in this manner.

Sources:

"Screven County Library Has History of Service." The Sylvania Telephone, January 25, 1973.

"The Bookmobile Story." Sylvania Junior Woman's Club Scrapbook, 1952.