Mobile Library Popular Books
Mobile Library Biography & Facts
A bookmobile, or mobile library, is a vehicle designed for use as a library. They have been known by many names throughout history, including traveling library, library wagon, book wagon, book truck, library-on-wheels, and book auto service. Bookmobiles expand the reach of traditional libraries by transporting books to potential readers, providing library services to people in otherwise underserved locations (such as remote areas) and/or circumstances (such as residents of retirement homes). Bookmobile services and materials (such as Internet access, large print books, and audiobooks), may be customized for the locations and populations served. Bookmobiles have been based on various means of conveyance, including bicycles, carts, motor vehicles, trains, watercraft, and wagons, as well as camels, donkeys, elephants, horses, and mules. History 19th century In the United States of America, The American School Library (1839) was a traveling frontier library published by Harper & Brothers. The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has the only complete original set of this series complete with its wooden carrying case. The British Workman reported in 1857 about a perambulating library operating in a circle of eight villages, in Cumbria. A Victorian merchant and philanthropist, George Moore, had created the project to "diffuse good literature among the rural population". The Warrington Perambulating Library, set up in 1858, was another early British mobile library. This horse-drawn van was operated by the Warrington Mechanics' Institute, which aimed to increase the lending of its books to enthusiastic local patrons. During the late 1800s, Women's Clubs began advocating for Bookmobiles in the state of Texas and throughout the United States. Kate Rotan of the Women's Club in Waco, Texas was the first to advocate for bookmobiles. She was president of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs (TFWC). During this time Women's Clubs were encouraged to promote bookmobiles because they embraced their ideas and missions. After receiving so much support and promotion these traveling libraries increased in numbers all around the United States. In the state of New York from 1895 to 1898 the number of bookmobiles increased to 980. The United States Women Clubs became their primary advocate. 20th century The Women's Club movement in 1904, had the standard to be held accountable for the influx of bookmobiles in thirty out of fifty states. Because of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs (TFWC), a new legislation to develop public libraries in Texas became possible after much advocating from TFWC for bookmobiles. This new legislation brought in library improvements and expansions that included establishing a system of traveling libraries in Texas. Women's Clubs wanted state governments to step in and create commissions for these traveling libraries. They hoped the commissions would boost the managers of the bookmobile's "Library Sprit". Unfortunately, the Texas Library Association (TLA) could not provide the type of service that is already provided to state libraries to bookmobiles. One of the earliest mobile libraries in the United States was a mule-drawn wagon carrying wooden boxes of books. It was created in 1904 by the People's Free Library of Chester County, South Carolina, and served the rural areas there. Another early mobile library service was developed by Mary Lemist Titcomb (1857–1932). As a librarian in Washington County, Maryland, Titcomb was concerned that the library was not reaching all the people it could. Meant as a way to reach more library patrons, the annual report for 1902 listed 23 deposit stations, with each being a collection of 50 books in a case that was placed in a store or post office throughout the county. Although popular, Titcomb realized that even this did not reach the most rural residents, and so she cemented the idea of a "book wagon" in 1905, taking the library materials directly to people's homes in remote parts of the county. After securing a Carnegie gift of $2,500, Titcomb purchased a black Concord wagon and employed the library janitor to drive it. The book wagon proved popular, with 1,008 volumes distributed within its first six months. With the rise of motorized transport in America, a pioneering librarian in 1920 named Sarah Byrd Askew began driving her specially outfitted Model T to provide library books to rural areas in New Jersey. The automobile remained rare, however, and in Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Public Library operated a horse-drawn book wagon starting in 1922. Following the Great Depression in the United States, a WPA effort from 1935 to 1943 called the Pack Horse Library Project covered the remote coves and mountainsides of Kentucky and nearby Appalachia, bringing books and similar supplies on foot and on hoof to those who could not make the trip to a library on their own. Sometimes these "packhorse librarians" relied on a centralized contact to help them distribute the materials. At Fairfax County, Virginia, county-wide bookmobile service was begun in 1940, in a truck loaned by the Works Progress Administration ("WPA"). The WPA support of the bookmobile ended in 1942, but the service continued. The "Library in Action" was a late-1960s bookmobile program in the Bronx, NY, run by interracial staff that brought books to teenagers of color in under-served neighborhoods. Bookmobiles reached the height of their popularity in the mid-twentieth century. In England, bookmobiles, or "traveling libraries" as they were called in that country, were typically used in rural and outlying areas. However, during World War II, one traveling library found popularity in the city of London. Because of air raids and blackouts, patrons did not visit the Metropolitan Borough of Saint Pancras's physical libraries as much as before the war. To meet the needs of its citizens, the borough borrowed a traveling library van from Hastings and in 1941 created a "war-time library on wheels." (The Saint Pancras borough was abolished in 1965 and became part of the London Borough of Camden.) The Saint Pancras traveling library consisted of a van mounted on a six-wheel chassis powered by a Ford engine. The traveling library could carry more than 2,000 books on open-access shelves that ran the length of the van. The books were arranged in Dewey order, and up to 20 patrons could fit into the van at one time to browse and check out materials. A staff enclosure was at the rear of the van, and the van was lighted with windows in the roof – each fitted with black-out curtains in case of a German bombing raid. The van could even be used at night, as it was fitted with electric roof lamps that could access electrical current from a nearby lamp-standard or civil defense post. The traveling library had a selection of fiction and non-fiction works; it even had a children's section with fairy tales and non-fiction books for kids. The ma.... Discover the Mobile Library popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Mobile Library books.
Best Seller Mobile Library Books of 2024
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The Magic
Rhonda ByrneNo matter who you are, no matter where you are, no matter what your current circumstances, The Magic is going to change your entire life!Your life will changeas if by magicwith gra...
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Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
Chelsea HandlerIn these personal essays, the hilarious comedian and Chelsea Lately host reflects on family, love life, and the absurdities of adulthood with "cheeky candor" and signature wit (Phi...
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Murder in the Library
Camilla ChaferWelcome to Calendar where life is sweet, but death is murder.Sara Cutler loves her job as head librarian of the public library, an integral part of the historic heart of the pictur...
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Lost in Shangri-La
Mitchell ZuckoffA New York Times bestseller and the winner of the Winship/PEN New England Award, Lost in ShangriLa is “a truly incredible adventure” (New York Times Book Review) about three brave ...
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Pretty Girls
Karin SlaughterLee Child says it’s “stunning… certain to be a book of the year.”Kathy Reichs calls it “extraordinary… a major achievement.”Gillian Flynn says of Karin Slaughter: “I’d follow her a...
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The English Spy
Daniel Silva#1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva delivers another stunning thriller in his latest actionpacked tale of high stakes international intrigue featuring the inimitable ...
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Murder on the Orient Express
Agatha ChristieTHE MOST WIDELY READ MYSTERY OF ALL TIMENOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY KENNETH BRANAGH AND PRODUCED BY RIDLEY SCOTT!“The murderer is with uson the train now . . .”Just afte...
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Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt VonnegutA special fiftieth anniversary edition of Kurt Vonnegut’s masterpiece, “a desperate, painfully honest attempt to confront the monstrous crimes of the twentieth century” (Time), fea...
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
V. E. SchwabNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERUSA TODAY BESTSELLER NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLERTHE WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLERRecommended by Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, NPR, Slate, and Oprah Magazin...
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Yes Please
Amy Poehler#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERDo you want to get to know the woman we first came to love on Comedy Central's Upright Citizens Brigade? Do you want to spend some time with the lady wh...
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The Power of Now
Eckhart TolleIt's no wonder that The Power of Now has sold over 16 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 30 foreign languages. Much more than simple principles and platitu...
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Glass Sword
Victoria AveyardThe #1 New York Times bestselling series!Perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series, Glass Sword is the highstakes follow up to the #1 New York Times bestselli...
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The Fallen Angel
Daniel SilvaArt restorer, assassin, spyGabriel Allon returns in The Fallen Angel, another blockbuster espionage thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva. The acclaimed a...
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The Library Book
Susan OrleanA REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICKA WASHINGTON POST TOP 10 BOOK OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2018“A constant pleasu...
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The Midnight Library
Matt HaigThe #1 New York Times bestselling WORLDWIDE phenomenon Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction | A Good Morning America Book Club Pick | Independent (London) Ten Best Boo...
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Know the Past, Find the Future
Various AuthorsFrom Laurie Anderson to Vampire Weekend, Roy Blount, Jr., to Renée Fleming, Stephen Colbert to Bill T. Jonesmore than 100 luminaries reflect on the treasures of America’s favorite ...
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Locked On
Tom Clancy & Mark GreaneyThough his father had been reluctant to become a heroic field operative, Jack Ryan, Jr. wants nothing more… Privately training with special forces, he’s honing his combat s...
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The Writings of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas JeffersonThe most comprehensive onevolume selection of Jefferson ever published. Contains the "Autobiography", "Notes on the State of Virginia", public and private papers, including the ori...
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Orphan Train
Christina Baker KlineThe #1 New York Times BestsellerNow featuring a sneak peek at Christina's forthcoming novel The Exiles, coming August 2020.“A lovely novel about the search for family that als...
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Natchez Burning
Greg IlesFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles comes the first novel in his Natchez Burning trilogywhich also includes The Bone Tree and the upcoming Mississippi Bloodan epic ...
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The Nest
Cynthia D'Aprix SweeneyA warm, funny and acutely perceptive debut novel about four adult siblings and the fate of the shared inheritance that has shaped their choices and their lives.Every family has its...
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The Vanishing Half
Brit Bennett#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEARNAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2020 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES THE WASHINGTON POST NPR PEOPLE TIME MAGAZI...
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State of Wonder
Ann Patchett“A nailbiting narrative, setting stark human dilemmas against a lush, exotic backdrop.” People“Extraordinary. . . . Nothing is as it seems, and the ending is as shocking as it...
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The Pact
Jodi Picoult“Engrossing...The Pact is compelling reading.”PeopleIn this heartrending tale of love and friendship, Jodi Picoult brings to life a familiar world, and in a single terrifying momen...
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Old Man and the Sea
Ernest HemingwayThe last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisher...
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Shatter Me
Tahereh MafiThe gripping first installment in New York Times bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me series.One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully gr...
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Baby Animals
Snapshot Picture LibraryLet's play with baby animals! Accompanied by a readalong audio track, more than 70 colorful photos showcase baby animals from all over the world. Meet and learn about all sort...
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The Guardians
John Grisham#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A classic legal thrillerwith a twist. "A suspenseful thriller mixed with powerful themes such as false incarceration, the death penalty an...
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The Secret
Rhonda ByrneThe worldwide bestselling phenomenon that has helped millions tap the power of the law that governs all our lives to createintentionally and effortlesslya joyful life.In 2006, a gr...
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper LeeVoted America's BestLoved Novel in PBS's The Great American ReadHarper Lee's Pulitzer Prizewinning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep Southand the heroism of one man in ...
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Flesh and Blood
Patricia CornwellIn this Kay Scarpetta novel, the master forensic sleuth finds herself in the unsettling pursuit of a serial sniper who leaves no incriminating evidence except fragments of copper.&...
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The Hating Game
Sally ThorneNow a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell, USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between ...
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The Paris Library
Janet Skeslien CharlesAn instant New York Times, Washington Post, and USA TODAY bestsellerbased on the true story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War IIThe Paris L...
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The Other Woman
Daniel Silva#1 New York Times Bestseller#1 USA Today Bestseller#1 Wall Street Journal BestsellerA Kirkus Best Book of 2018A Real Book Spy Best Thriller of 2018From Daniel ...
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The Selection
Kiera CassFall in lovefrom the very beginning. Discover the first book in the captivating, #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series.This ebook edition contains an excerpt of Kiera Cass...
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Lost Library
Kate BarayA mysterious and magical book... What's the point of a book that can't be read? Lizzie hasn't a clue, but she does know there's magic afoot. When a handsome strang...
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The Library
Scott Douglas & Andy SweatThe teleplay that follows is the pilot of a sitcom about the odd things that happen at a public library. The sitcom has yet to find a studio. It is inspired by the memoir "Quiet, P...
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Neil GaimanA brilliantly imaginative and poignant fairy tale from the modern master of wonder and terror, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is Neil Gaiman’s first new novel for adults since hi...
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Before I Go To Sleep
S. J. WatsonNew York Times Bestseller“An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page.” Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestsell...
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Library of Souls
Ransom RiggsThe New York Times #1 bestselling series. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with neverbeforepublished vintage photography to create a ...
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The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller“At once a scholar’s homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist….A book I could not put down.”Ann Patchett“Mary Renault lives a...
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Good to Great
Jim CollinsThe Challenge Built to Last, the defining management study of the nineties, showed how great companies triumph over time and how longterm sustained performance can be engineered in...