Sunday, May 5, 2024
Plans are currently in motion for the Hood County Bookmobile, which is expected to start carrying books and other library resources to local neighborhoods at the end of this year.
Hood County residents will soon have the option of browsing for books and utilizing library resources from the comfort of their own neighborhood.
The Hood County Commissioner’s Court approved the purchase of a 2022 Ford F550 in December. The 18-foot-long vehicle will be used as a mobile library to bring books, programs and internet access into economically disadvantaged neighborhoods as well as the communities of Cresson, Tolar and Lipan.
The vehicle was purchased for $273,898 with funds the county received from the CARES Act, a pandemic-related relief program.
The idea originated during the shelter-in-place period of COVID-19, when Hood County Library Director Jennifer Logsdon and her staff were piling books in their vehicles and taking them to nursing homes and to the towns of Tolar and Cresson.
“The bookmobile would just be an adjunct for people who can't get to the library,” said Library Foundation Board President Susan Scott. “I mean, that was really evident during COVID, but then even after that, we realized that tons and tons of people don't have transportation and can't get to the library. Either their parents work, or they’re older, so that’s how it all started.”
The Commissioner’s Court provided start-up funds to outfit the vehicle with a partial supply of books and services, and the Library Foundation plans to raise money to fully outfit the bookmobile and accommodate future needs.
“We agreed to raise the rest of the money to completely furnish it out to finish out everything they need, and then also for future purchases because all the books in the library stay in the library and the books in the bookmobile stay in the bookmobile, so they don't intermingle,” Scott said.
According to Scott, the van itself is already ordered and 1,036 books that were specifically ordered for the bookmobile are currently being stored at the library.
The van will be able to accommodate wheelchairs and the book racks will have wheels so residents won’t have to walk into the van to use the services.
“People who can't come to the bookmobile based upon where it's parked, we can actually carry the library to them where they're at,” said Monty Lewis, member of the Library Foundation Board. “The chassis has been laid at the production facility, and I know Jennifer is working feverishly with her staff in a manner of advising our board and the Friends of the Library as to how this will all be done, and how the locations will be determined.”
Scott said the board is working as a liaison with the mayors in Lipan, Tolar and Cresson to get a plan of how the bookmobile will handle its rotations.
Lewis said his guess is that the bookmobile will be in different locations in Hood County each week.
“This truly is one of those jewels in the crown of Hood County. There's just so many wonderful possibilities for this bookmobile,” he added.
Currently there is no official timeline for when the bookmobile will be ready, but Lewis and Scott both gave estimates for the end of the year.
“What I'm really thrilled about to be quite honest with you, is that it's a better way to serve all citizens of the county and not just those that live in close proximity of the library,” Lewis added. “This is going to be a huge accomplishment when that bookmobile arrives.”
Scott said one of the foundation members grew up in Fort Worth in an economically disadvantaged community and wasn’t able to get to the library, but luckily, the community had a bookmobile.
“She taught her younger brother how to read by getting books from the bookmobile. She was like, ‘That’s why it’s important,’” Scott said. “We’re excited because I think there’s a need for that kind of thing in this day and age with social media being so important, but reading is also important. The written word is important. Not just books, but the importance of books is always going to be paramount.”
Individuals can donate to the “Fill the Bookmobile” campaign, where every donation will go directly to a purchase of books, computers and Wi-Fi services for years to come.
Donations can be made online at hclibraryfoundation.com/gift-giving or a check can be mailed to the Hood County Library Foundation addressed to Mr. David Wells, Treasurer, Hood County Library Foundation, 9608 Ravenswood Road, Granbury, TX 76049.
Donations of $100 or more will be recognized on the Bookmobile Donor Board in the main library.
Lewis added, "There are people that look at those donor boards as it relates to who actually made this possible, and it's really important to recognize that this is one of the great communities in not only the state of Texas, but in the United States. I've lived in seven different locations in my career, and I can tell you, this is the most generous county, community, group of citizens I've ever seen; it's remarkable.”
