ABOS Reaches Out

ABOS Conference in Everett, Washington

2009-10-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

An enthusiastic group of library staffers are gathered together in Everett, Washington to discuss bookmobile and outreach services. Wednesday's keynote speakers were Bill Barnes & Gene Ambaum of Unshelved fame. Visit their wonderful website at http://www.unshelved.com/

Outreach in the News!

2008-09-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

Tulsa City-County Library was featured in a newspaper article. Tulsa library will go wherever readers are, delivering great readers advisory service and bringing the library to families in neighborhoods and grateful patrons who receive their deliveries at home. Read the full article here:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/lifestyle/article.aspx?subjectID=67&articleID=20080824_67_D1_Suzann81022

Ashland Public Library has posted great photos on Flickr of their very successful Touch A Truck program. Take a look!

The photos of Touch-A-Truck 2008 are finally posted...
www.flickr.com/photos/ashland_public_library/

you can also view the newspaper article at
http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4223041

Annual Conference Registration Open

2008-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Registration is now open for the ABOS Annual Conference. You can find conference sessions, a tentative schedule, and a registration link at
http://www.abos-outreach.org/annual_conference.htm.

New this year: register online and pay by credit card, or generate an invoice to pay by check!

Vavrek Scholarship Available

2008-07-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

Check out the ABOS website for information about the new Bernard Vavrek Scholarship, designed to contribute to the education and training of library staff working in the area of bookmobile and outreach services. Deadline for application is September 5, 2008.

http://www.abos-outreach.org/awards.html

More new bookmobiles have arrived or are coming soon!

2008-05-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Jon Worona, Branch Bookmobiles Manager of San Francisco Public Library writes, “In the next fiscal year, we will purchase a new "green" bookmobile with many eco-friendly features.”

“Our new Farber Elf is being built right now.” Joanne White
Monterey Public Library

“We are in the process of finishing specs for a new vehicle.”
Joyce Voss

“We will have a new vehicle this summer.” Kathy Mayo, Outreach Services Manager, Lee County Library System

“We celebrated the Grand Arrival of our new bookmobile April 11 and we've been on the road ever since.”Judy Packer, Manager
Bookmobile Services to Young Children, Wake County Public Libraries

“We took delivery of our Sprinter Book Hauler in February this year, for our new Lobby Stop Service to Assisted Living Facilities, and will be getting our new city Mobile Library in late May. It is a happy Year here in PPLD Mobile Library Land!” Jan Meadows, Mobile Library Services Co-ordinator, Pikes Peak Library District

“We are in the design process of purchasing a new vehicle at this time.” Rich Allen, Bookmobile Supervisor, Jefferson County Public Library

New Bookmobiles and other great outreach news!

2008-04-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

We’re getting a 35’ vehicle from Matthews and expect delivery in late June or early July. It’s a rear engine model on a Freightliner chassis – 12.5’ H x 8.5’ W. (It will replace our 40’ bus built in 1991.)

Kathy Mayo, Outreach Services Manager
Lee County Library System

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System plans to reinstate Bookmobile and Outreach services.

Christina Kaulbach
Bookmobile Librarian
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library

I've Got Morning All In Me

2008-02-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

We asked a Head Start class if they were having a good morning and a little boy answered: "I've got morning all in me!"

One other story is about a boy around ten years old who was really embarrassed. He finally said he wanted to know if we had any books about what to say after you say I love you to a girl. They found him a book and the next time he came, they asked him if it worked. He said happily, "Oh yeah!"

Susan Chandler

You Get to Go on the Bookmobile

2008-02-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

Second time we went to a specific Headstart, I walked up to the classroom door to do a storytime. A little boy got a disgusted look on his face and asked if he had to go on the bookmobile. I said, "No, you get to go on the bookmobile."
"Is Mr Jim out there?"
"Yes"
"Is Miss Becky out there?"
"Yes"
"Okay, I'll go," as he trudged off into the room.

A month (2 stops) later.
I walk up to the same classroom door to be greeted by the exact same boy. He took one look at me, started to run around the room, yelling, "The bookmobile is here. Put away your toys. She going to read to us."
Ruth Pettibone

Here you go, Grandma!

2008-02-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

There were new kids in the class at one of my regular preschool stops.
I gave my usual 'speech' about "everyone gets to choose one book; you'll keep them in the classroom and share them with your friends...." - you know how it goes. The kids, of course, were buzzing around the bus SO excited. The first little guy chose his book, hurried to the counter, plopped it down and said "Here you go, Grandma!"

Willow Gale, Bookmobile Supervisor
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library

Missed the Bookmobile? Go after it!

2008-02-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

Two of our faithful patrons of a neighborhood stop just missed the bookmobile one day, so they drove to the library to learn where the bookmobile was right then; left the library and drove to the bookmobile stop.

Dianne Niece
Extension Services Coordinator
Troy-Miami County Public Library

A Bookmobile Early Literacy Story

2008-02-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

At a mobile home park we have been seeing a young woman, Amanda, who is staying with her grandmother while in the last few months of her pregnancy. (Long story short, the guy turned out to be a lemon). She had a little girl last week. When I took books to the grandmother this morning she told me a great story. Amanda and her grandmother have been reading aloud to each other for a couple of months, bookmobile books of course. Well the baby recognized both of their voices from the first moments of her life! She turns toward them whenever they speak. At the hospital, the nurses only interested her for a moment and then she once again would seek out the new mama or the grandmother. So here is a literacy tip we can share - not only is it great to read to your baby, it is great to read to your unborn child.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Bookmobile

2008-02-01T10:52:00.002-08:00

Something to make you smile. More to come!

For some reason, many of the children in the neighborhood believed that the bookmobile staff lived in the bookmobile. They saw it going to a stop on another day and told their parents "Look they are going to buy groceries!". On a similar note, we had to close the bookmobile down for about a month to have some serious body work done, the children became very concerned that the driver's had been put in jail for speeding (I don't think you could speed in our bookmobile even if you wanted to!).

One bookmobiler told me that with their swivel seats (facing toward the back of the bookmobile) a child asked them how did they drive the unit backwards!!

1.) Most children call us Miss .... or "teacher" if they can't remember our names. I had one preschool boy call me "Library Girl"! (a previously unknown superhero!)
2.) Claudia Zimmerman will appreciate this one!...I had an Amish boy ask me for, what I thought was, "horrors and spooks". Our Amish patrons don't normally read books about ghosts/supernatural, but I happily began showing him various scary and ghost books. He looked at everything I showed him but was non-committal. Finally my volunteer said, "I think he wants horses books!" I still chuckle when I think about that one.
3.) Along those same lines, a boy asked me for "Ricky Ricardo". An unusual request so I said, "You mean like Ricky from I Love Lucy?" He shook his head, "No, Ricky Ricardo". Stumped, I pulled out my Children's Books In Print reference and began to look up Ricky...Aha! "Ricky Ricotta" by Dav Pilkey!

Another Blog

2008-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

I thought some of you might be interested in another bookmobile blog, Bookmobile 2.0. To quote from blog itself: The Bookmobile of the Library System of Lancaster County- Serving Lancaster County PA for over 65 years.

2007 Annual Conference Poem

2007-12-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-30T08:24:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

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

Dec. 17, 2007

Ohio Bookmobile in Holiday Parade

2007-11-21T08:00:00.001-08:00

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

2007-10-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-16T09:58:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-08T14:35:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

Conference Quote by Jan Meadows

2007-10-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

"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

2007-10-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

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