Bookmobile News

Based on population density and income level, southwest Santa Rosa has been desperately appropriate for a public library for many years.  Unfortunately our community services have been steadily stripped of funding and there is no relief in sight.  That is why, back in March, the Sonoma County Free Bookmobile eagerly agreed to establish our original bookmobile trailer on permanent loan at Landpaths’ Bayer Farm.  Bayer is a unique resource in the heart of the Roseland neighborhood: an urban farm, learning center, positive gathering site for local families – and hopefully a city park in the making.

Landpaths’ Bilingual Program Coordinator Magdalena Ridley recently gave us great news about the extensive utilization of the “Kids Club” trailer over the summer.  Not only did site staff open the bookmobile every Friday during their free summer lunch program, they also hosted a number of special events and multiple visits by the local Boys & Girls Club.  The grand total was several hundred unique visitors, not only children ages 0 – 18 but neighborhood adults as well, and “…each time the books were a huge hit,” writes Magdalena.

The maintenance of the trailer and book collection is catching on as well.  “The bookmobile was tagged fairly brutally with some bright red gang graffiti but a neighbor who walks there every day has taken it upon herself to repaint it each time,” continues Magdalena.  “We are in the process of planning a mural with some local young artists.  People from the community are beginning to bring their extra books – it is becoming a lending library.  We are very thankful for this amazing resource!”

The Free Bookmobile staff was fortunate to attend Bayer Farm’s Corn Festival in October and reunite with our faithful old steed for the evening.  We were encouraged by what we saw: both a growing familiarity with the use of the ‘mobile on some of the children’s eager faces, and plenty of the surprise and delight that often accompanies a first encounter with our services.  At the end of the night we left behind several boxes of brand new early reader books, and we took away big huge grins.