Blue, Green, and (Almost) Ready To Roll: The Coastside's New Bookmobile

If you've walked through the parking lot of the recently, you might have noticed a 35-foot long blue and green vehicle in the vicinity.

Yes, the "old" bookmobile is blue and green -- and it's still in the library parking lot. But this is a blue and green vehicle of an entirely different category.

The Coastside's new bookmobile has finally arrived in town, and it's one fit for the 21st century. 

Sporting a multi-hued blue exterior with gray and white highlights and stripes running along its length, the bookmobile doesn't look that wildly different in structure from the old bookmobile.

But in addition to the capacity to hold 1,000 more items (in both English and Spanish) than its predecessor, this bookmobile has solar panels, boasts a hybrid generator, and is biodiesel-friendly. Other updated features include in-house computers, laptop stations, and a wheelchair lift. (To read more about the new bookmobile, read our preview article here published last year).

Like its predecessor, the new bookmobile will make regular visits twice a month to unincorporated communities from to Montara to Moss Beach to El Granada to Pescadero (even inland to LaHonda) -- all of which do not have a library of their own.

Annie Malley, Director of the , said earlier this week that the bookmobile will be ready for service in March, as there are a few final tasks that need to be finished before the bookmobile is put into service, such as an inspection that will take place late this week. Books and other items available for checkout will be transferred to its shelves before the month is up, according to Malley.

On March 5 at Pescadero Elementary School, the library is hosting an from 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. for the community to "meet" and celebrate its new bookmobile. San Mateo County Supervisors Carole Groom and Don Horsley are scheduled to speak, but "it's primarily a community celebration with family activities," Malley said.