2007 Annual Conference Poem

Regular ABOS Conference attendees may know that every year, Someone (who shall remain nameless) writes a poem about the conference. Most of these poems have been lost, due to having been scribbled on a napkin in a bar, but here is this year's poem (transcribed from said napkin):

Where, oh where, has my bookmobile gone?
Where, oh where, can it be?
With it's lights shining brightly
And it's books packed in tightly,
It's gone to ABOS in St. Louie!

Saint, Saint, Saint Louie!
I love this place -- so much to see!
Starting with hot breakfast and programs that are great!
Then join the Ridley fan club
Or do some networking (and lemon drops) in the pub
(Or tub -- if it's triangular -- with a view!)
If you don't know what I mean, you're new.

Break out! Pick a group! My schedule I can tailor.
I can go back and say I've seen a bookmobile in a trailer.
So technically, I've seen a trailer park.
But wow, like none I've ever seen.
And don't forget the Hollywood Librarian!
What was your favorite scene?
Was is Katherine Hepburn's sister, with her cigarette-scarred voice?
Or was it Marion the Librarian, or is "intellectually-stimulating cataloging" your choice?

Oh well, the show's almost over...
The vendors have been great!
The planners are all exhausted,
And next year's up to fate.


If anyone has copies of previous Annual Conference poems, please forward them to pres@abos-outreach.org, and we'll post them here!

Massillon, Ohio Holiday Parade

This is the Massillon Public Library bookmobile from Massillon, Ohio in our holiday parade November 17. The scrolling sign read "Your library...a gift all year". Each sign hanging from the garland listed a library service. Decorating was simplified because we had OBS install stainless steel hooks at intervals on the sides of the bus.

Bookmobiles in the News

What do Suze Orman, Bill O'Reilly, Lee Iacocca and The Grinch have in common?
They, or rather their respective books, all cruise together through the streets of town on the Decatur Public Library's Bookmobile 549. A community fixture since the 1960s, the bookmobiles have not changed much in form and function. The big white vans make stops around town to check library materials in and out.
For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/11/23/news/local/1028111.txt

Decatur, Illinois Bookmobile in Christmas Parade

Sorry, this is the only photo I've got.

Dec. 17, 2007

Ohio Bookmobile in Holiday Parade

Ashtabula County District Library's Bookmobile's permanent mural depicts scenes of its rural service area south of Ashtabula, Ohio. Add a few lights, and it's ready for the city's annual Christmas parade Nov. 16.

Great Press for Fresno Bookmobile

Fresno County Library has a new 33 foot bookmobile! The Fresno Bee published a very positive article about it titled: Not Your Mom’s Bookmobile: Pretty and packed with books, this one turns heads. The new bookmobile stops at community centers, apartment complexes, shopping centers, retirement villages, and post offices. Patrons are thrilled with their new library on wheels!

Congratulations to Terry Sterling and Karen Maj

Kathy

Donkey Mobile Library

The October 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine has a feature article about a donkey mobile library in Ethiopia. The article is called "Hope Volume 1" and is on page 200, authored by Melissa Fay Greene. "How a children's librarian and his donkey-drawn bookmobile are saving the world, one kid at a time."
It is truly inspiring!
Martha Buckner

Great Conference

At the ABOS conference, I was able to meet folks from all over the USA who provide bookmobile and outreach services. In addition, this conference attracted folks from other parts of the world (Canada, Australia, and the West Indies). It was neat to hear about the services that my colleagues provide. I picked up some neat ideas to try out. I am looking forward to staying in touch with the people that I met at the conference.

Rose Huling, Morse Institute Library, Natick, MA

Outreach in the News

The Decatur (IL) Public Library's outreach to the Spanish-speaking community gets mentioned in the local newspaper.--John

Conference Quote by Jan Meadows

"People are rejuvenated by the camaraderie and networking at the conference. You find that you are not alone. [Then] you come here and find out that there are other people who are doing what who you are doing."
Jan Meadows, Pikes Pike Library District
(As reported to our roving blogger, Rose)

Greetings from St.Louis

Hello Everyone! Greetings from St. Louis. We are beginning a great adventure in the blogging world. I wanted to let people know that we will be sharing thoughts and comments from the folks in the field. Please feel free to check out our website at www.abos-outreach.org. We have included photos of the conference. Rose

Reaching Out

ABOS is an association of bookmobile and outreach library workers. Every day we climb into vans or bookmobiles and bounce along lumpy roads, visit preschools and headstarts to teach literacy, and take book carts to senior centers. This blog is created to share our touching stories, our successes, our challenges and triumphs.

Kathy