As we celebrate National Library Week and National Bookmobile Day on April 13th, it’s the perfect time to explore the history of
Nebraska’s first bookmobile. The Nebraska Public Library Commission purchased their first bookmobile on July 28, 1936. I assumed that this bookmobile was purchased to deliver books to patrons around the state, however after doing a bit of research I realized I was wrong.
The Commission documented the purchase of the bookmobile in their 1935-1936 biennial report to the governor: “One of the most important aids in the program of the Library Commission has been the new Bookmobile purchased during the summer of 1936 and first displayed at the State Fair. The Library Commission is indebted to Mrs. R. L. Cochran for her interest in this project and to a group of Omaha business men for their gift of money which made the purchase of the book truck possible. The Bookmobile, which is a specially constructed half ton truck, is used for demonstration purposes and carries a carefully selected collection of three hundred books. It has done much to create interest in library extension.” *
It was reported in the September 4, 1936 issue of the State Journal that “The Nebraska bookmobile will be used for the present of demonstration. Following the state fair it will be on exhibit at some county fairs and will also be taken to several state conventions. . . . The books carried will be duplicates of books which may be borrowed from the library commission, chosen to show the type of service given by the commission. . . . It is hoped plans can be made to use the bookmobile for delivery of books within a limited territory.”
The bookmobile made many stops across the state as is documented by the
photographs in Nebraska Memories. In the next year’s biennial report (1936-1938) it was documented that “Eighty-six of the ninety-three counties in the state have been visited by the Bookmobile.” ** In another
report by the Commission it states “This “library on wheels” has traveled 4,000 miles over the state. . . and has been a big factor in making people in Nebraska aware of the service which is available to them through the Library Commission. It has resulted in an increased number of requests for books.”
There were a few other interesting things I noticed and wanted to share:
- Looking at the back of the bookmobile, there appears to be a AAA logo above the license plate. What type of emergency road service was needed and offered in the late 1930’s?
- Five of the bookmobile photos were taken in front of public libraries. What’s interesting is that the Commission has modern pictures of three of these libraries.
Visit
Nebraska Memories to search for or browse through many more historical images digitized from photographs, negatives, postcards, maps, lantern slides, books and other materials.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. Nebraska Memories is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/ for more information, or contact
Beth Goble, Government Information Services Director, or
Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.
* State of Nebraska Report of the Nebraska Public Library Commission to the Governor, August 26, 1935 to November 30. 1936 – Page 11 (The
full text of this document is available as part of Commission’s State Publications Clearinghouse Service.)
** Biennial Report of the Nebraska Public Library Commission, December 1, 1936, 10 November 30, 1938 – Page 11 (The
full text of this report is also available online.)
