Mobile branch libraries or bookmobiles or travelling libraries are vehicle(s) designed, equipped and operated to extend and facilitate access to public library services to those people in the community who do not have reasonably convenient access to a static public branch library.[2]
Former City of Parramatta Librarian Miss Margaret Miller (1958-1965) described bookmobiles as
“… a large vehicle with a five-ton chassis, to carry 2000 books, could be likened to a large bus. Borrowers would walk inside to take books from the shelves as they would in an ordinary library. Routes for the bookmobile, which will be driven by Mr John Stephenson, have been planned to enable the library to visit once a week at centres having a population of 100 or more, and twice a week at those with between 1000 and 3000.”[3]
Today although the City of Parramatta Library does not have a mobile branch library, there is an outreach library services most prominently in the form of our free Home library services https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/community/library/library-programs/home-library-service. This service is offered to people who are unable to visit the library due to poor health or disability, the frail aged, residents in a care facility, full time carers and residents who require temporary service after serious illness or injury. The van also delivers to local nursing homes, retirement villages and aged care facilities.
Please note: Residents/carers require a doctor’s certificate stating causes or reasons why they cannot access their library due to medical conditions or illness.
History of Mobile Libraries in Australia[4]
Growth in the use of mobile libraries or bookmobiles or travelling libraries in Australia started gaining traction in the late 1940s, post World War Two. They were already very common in the United States and England through the 1920s and 1930s. In parts of NSW, local Mechanics’ and Literary Institutes offered a mobile book delivery service by subscription. The first public library bookmobile in NSW began on 9 October 1947 in Ku-ring-gai. During the 1950s a number of bookmobiles began operating in both regional NSW and the rapidly developing outlying metropolitan areas of Sydney.
In 1960 the Secretary of the Library Board, Mr. R McGreal and Parramatta City Librarian, Miss M Miller met to discuss the possibility of a regional mobile library service for Parramatta, Blacktown, Auburn, Baulkham Hills and Holroyd.
“A branch should be opened at Berala, with a bookmobile to serve Holroyd, Blacktown and Baulkham Hills. It is difficult to anticipate the future population growth in many areas, but there are places where, within ten years, the population will have grown to such an extent that a branch library ought to be provided rather than a mobile service. Blacktown Shire would need a bookmobile soon after it began a library service, as would Baulkham Hills Shire, while Holroyd would almost certainly need one on a temporary basis. If the councils operate independently, this would mean the provision of three separate mobile units, whereas the area concerned could be effectively served by one large bookmobile,’ the report added.”[5]
In 1972, with the joint regional library service agreement between Parramatta City Council, Holroyd Municipality and Baulkham Hills Shire Council, a mobile library service commenced with Parramatta providing the staff to drive the vehicle. In 1987, Parramatta Library received a new $76,000 Isuzu vehicle bookmobile carrying about 2200 books supplied by Baulkham Hills Shire Council.[6]
Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021.
References
- City of Parramatta. (2021). Home library services. Retrieved from https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/community/library/library-programs/home-library-service
- State Library of New South Wales (2015). Mobile & outreach services : NSW public libraries : practice, standards & guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/mobile_outreach_services.pdf
- Mobile library for Lake Macquarie (1950, June 17). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, p. 7
- Anderson, Victoria (2015). Appendix 1: A short history of mobile libraries in NSW. In State Library of New South Wales. Mobile & outreach services : NSW public libraries : practice, standards & guidelines, pp. 33-37. Retrieved from https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/mobile_outreach_services.pdf
- Regional library state’s biggest (1960, October 5). The Cumberland Argus, p. 7
- Mobile library turns over a new leaf. (1987, May 5). Hill News, p. 1