The Hall County Bookmobile is one of the most valuable assets for providing library services to Grand Island and Hall County. The bookmobile has a collection of materials including regular and large print books, videos, and audiocassettes. The bookmobile staff keeps the bookmobile stocked keeping in mind the wide range of age and interests of bookmobile patrons. In addition, requests may be made to the friendly “bookmobile ladies” for specific items.

The bookmobile has two schedules a year, September through May and June through July. Throughout the year the big white bus with the blue “bookmobile” slashed across each side reaches thousands of patrons at schools, nursing and retirement homes, apartment complexes, parks and neighborhoods within Hall County every three weeks. A lift is provided for wheelchair accessibility.

During the summer, the bookmobile has the forms and prizes for children anywhere in the county to participate in the Summer Reading Program. In addition, the bookmobile has enjoyed great success in delivering crates of materials to approximately sixty daycares, pre-schools and Hall County HeadStart. Both services augment promotion of early childhood literacy endorsed by the library.

The bookmobile may be visited at various events throughout the year such as HealthFest at St. Francis, the Ethnic Festival, the Harvest of Harmony Parade, All Hallows Eve at Stuhr Museum, Children’s Day at Fonner Park, outreach to schools, and special events. Anyone with a valid library card may check out items at these events or anywhere that the bookmobile may be parked. A person with proper identification may also fill out an application to obtain a library card. The bookmobile will soon be online with the library to provide even better service to the library users of Hall County.

Bookmobile service for Hall County first began in September 1962 using a bookmobile borrowed from the Nebraska Library Commission. The service was a demonstration project - the hope was that the rural community would see value in the service and be willing, with the availability of Federal money, to jointly fund the operation. Enthusiastic support was received from the Hall County Extension Clubs and when the time came to make a decision the County Board decided on their own to buy a bookmobile and fund the service. In November of 1962 a contract detailing the service was signed by the Library Board and the Hall County Board.

In January 1963 bids were let for the unit with the Gerstenschlager Company of Wooster Ohio receiving the bid. The vehicle that was chosen was a 19' unit on a International Harvester chassis. The cost was $11,000.

After more than 30 years of operation, the old bookmobile was replaced by a new vehicle in November 1995. The $64,885 bid from Cornhusker International in Lincoln, NE was accepted by the Hall County Board of Supervisors in March 1995. Funding came from Fonner Park and county keno proceeds. The bookmobile’s specifications included ADA access; safety features such as grab bars and safety strips, an emergency roof hatch and hinged window, backup alarm, and improved brakes, suspension and steering systems; temperature control through added insulation, more reliable heating, and air conditioning provided for the first time; an electrical system designed to be sufficient for future anticipated needs such as computer, fax and data transmission; and more evenly distributed lighting.