Green Bookmobile Coming to the Coastside Near You

The public library is one of those longstanding American institutions often taken for granted. Long ago, before mega-bookstore chains Borders and Barnes & Noble began to checker the landscape in the 1990s, libraries were the place to go to sit in a comfortable chair and happily lose oneself in a stack of books and magazines for the afternoon. Children of many a generation have fond memories of walking through the doors for storytime, snagging the latest book in the series of the moment, or recalling the excitement of discovering that the DVD on their Netflix list was sitting on the shelf just waiting to be taken home and watched for free.

For Coastsiders, the has certainly played (and continues to play) that role as the provider of the printed word, along with that of a community meeting place. But since unincorporated areas north and south of Half Moon Bay don't have a local library, residents have also made use of the county's Bookmobile -- a library on wheels that makes regular visits twice a month at various locations from to Montara to Pescadero (even inland to LaHonda).  The service has been operating since 1953. Last year, according to the San Mateo County Library, patrons checked out 41,293 items from the Bookmobile alone. The current Bookmobile has been in use since its purchase in 1993. 

With the debut of a new Bookmobile next year, local bibliophiles have a lot to be excited about. Half Moon Bay Library Director Annie Malley says the new Bookmobile is "still on schedule" to arrive Coastside this January.

This is not your mother's Bookmobile.

Manufactured by OBS, Inc. of Canton, OH, the latest 35-foot long hybrid of vehicle and book-borrowing station will also have a hybrid generator, solar panels, and the ability to run on biodiesel.

Patrons will be able to linger inside the Bookmobile while they peruse any of the 5,000 items (an increase in 1,000 items compared to the current collection) in English and Spanish while sitting on benches. They will also be able to hang out in cafe chairs outside. Those who want to work or check email can get choose from in-house computers or laptop stations, and connect to its Wi-Fi network. The Bookmobile will also be wheelchair accessible through a powered lift.

According to the San Mateo County Library, the total cost of the Bookmobile is  approximately $240,000. Planning for the new Bookmobile started in December 2009.