NEWS For Immediate Release April 16, 2013

Contact: Steve Zalusky

CHICAGO – The tightening of belts across the U.S. has almost everyone looking for ways to cut costs.  With entertainment being one of the first targets, your local library is driving to the rescue – literally – as bookmobiles are racing into communities bringing education, entertainment and enlightenment wherever they go.  Those communities will take time on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 to celebrate these heroes on wheels during National Bookmobile Day @ your library.

Each year during National Library Week (April 14-20) a day is set aside to recognize these mobile libraries and the people who make them roll.  It is a time for bookmobile supporters to say thank you to the staff, write a letter or e-mail to their library or let community leaders know how much they rely on their bookmobile.

Bookmobiles, like libraries, offer books, but are also keeping up with these ever changing times by providing access to the latest technology and materials to everyone – all free of charge.  As the services expand, a lot of bookmobiles are becoming more specialized – even changing their names to match their purposes – Technomobile, JobLink and Cybermobile just to name a few

 “As bookmobiles evolve to serve an Internet world,” said ALA President Maureen Sullivan, “they are also changing to serve Mother Earth.  Bookmobile manufacturers are designing today’s mobile libraries to be fuel efficient and ‘green,’ using clean diesel engines and generators, LED lighting and recycled materials.”

Acting as the extended library family, bookmobiles visit areas that bricks and mortar can’t reach, including rural areas, suburbs and cities.  They provide service to children, disabled adults, older adults, people with health issues and those who lack or cannot afford transportation.  More than just neighborhoods are touched – bookmobiles make stops at day care centers, elementary and high schools, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, prisons and even individual residences can receive home deliveries.

National Bookmobile Day is sponsored by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), and the Association for Rural Small Libraries (ARSL).

To learn more about National Bookmobile Day or find out about events at your local library, please visit http://www.ala.org/bookmobiles. For more information contact Katherine Kelly at (312) 200-8023 or kkellyyma@gmail.com

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