Work on new bookmobile continues

A year after starting the process for purchasing a new bookmobile, the James River Valley Library System Board of Directors on Wednesday discussed progress on fundraising as nearly $8,000 in repairs were expended on the current vehicle.
According to Library Director Joe Rector, the bookmobile had required only scheduled maintenance in all of 2014. Now with more than 118,000 miles, he said exhaust and steering issues made the vehicle inoperable and needed to be fixed to use until a new vehicle was acquired.
During the repair periods, Rector noted that the bookmobile driver used a personal vehicle to deliver library materials to regular patrons. The driver was reimbursed for mileage, he added.
The board discussed work to identify bookmobile manufacturers before a bidding process would begin. The cost of a new vehicle was not yet estimated as discussion continued with manufacturers.
“The new vehicle will be smaller and can be loaded and unloaded with materials more efficiently with a liftgate,” Rector said. “The liftgate will also service patrons requiring special assistance to access materials inside of the bookmobile.”
Rector and board members are working on two grant applications, that if approved, would bring funds to offset costs for the new bookmobile. Rector is also working on a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant application that would pay for 15 percent of the total vehicle cost.
In his capital campaign and Friends of the Library report, Bill Kennedy, development director for the library system, said the bookmobile is currently the focus of local fundraising efforts. He is also continuing outreach on the adult education programs now offered by the library system.
In other action the board voted to change its monthly meeting to 4:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Alfred Dickey Library. The meeting change will start July 20.
The board also approved the 2014 library report. It will now be forwarded to the North Dakota State Library.
“It was a good report,” Rector said.
The report notes that the addition of 34 electronic resources including Zinio eMagazines has increased circulation by 364 to 112,855 for 2014. While in-library computer use and visits were up, the total circulation was down slightly from 2013, Rector said. The addition of $15,000 in youth non-fiction books, along with new music in all genres has helped increase circulation in 2015, he added.
Sun reporter Tom LaVenture can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at tlaventure@jamestownsun.com