Friday, 17 June 2011

Introduction

      The purpose of this blog is to share information about bookmobile services in the province of Nova Scotia. 

    Are bookmobiles still necessary, or with today’s modern technology are they becoming obsolete? Looking at the history of Nova Scotia’s bookmobiles, examining the role of this service in the province’s public library systems, providing some facts on use and management, how are bookmobiles faring today?

   Interested? Read on to find out more.

A history of the bookmobile in Nova Scotia

    
    
        Bookmobiles have been around for a long time in Nova Scotia. The first bookmobile in Nova Scotia, and in fact Canada, started in 1949 in Annapolis Valley. Throughout the 1950’s other library regions across Nova Scotia started to recognize the popularity and outreach potential this type of library service had. “It was a revolutionary way to get information to rural communities” (Garret, 2004). The original bookmobiles started out in the form of trucks that would deliver books but changed into more as time went. Pictou- Antigonish Regional Library added a Bookmobile in 1953. In 1958, the province of Nova Scotia put out a film highlighting its services. The star of the film was the Bookmobile. Halifax Regional Library jumped on board in 1960. Annapolis Valley expanded their Bookmobile services to from two to three counties in 1970. Some regions, like Eastern Counties, had three Bookmobiles on the road at times. Bookmobiles peaked in the 1970’s with over 22 bookmobiles across the province in use.

      As time went on, regions were building more and more branches, roads were being improved or built, and people became more mobile. As a result, these changes rendered some bookmobiles obsolete in areas. For example, in Guysborough County (part of Eastern Counties) Cyril Newton Ward, a long time Bookmobile patron, donated money for a permanent branch to be built that replaced the bookmobile. Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library parked its bookmobile in 1991. Colchester-East Hants Region retired their last bookmobile in 2004. These regions moved to other options to serve their rural communities such as offering books by mail service and/ or setting up satellite depository book sites.

     Today those regions that still use bookmobiles are in essence, mobile library branches. They use the internet for online catalogue use and computer check-in/outs, offer space for browsing (not just a delivery truck anymore), have a diverse collection that is refreshed continually, and provide a “community” place for people to come and catch up. In addition to serving rural communities, bookmobiles also act as recource centres for many public schools whose own libraries may not be sufficient.

     Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, South Shore, and Halifax Regional Libraries are the only regions that now use the bookmobile and these services are continually being re-evaluated for their usage and relevance.




References
Annapolis Valley Regional Library.(n.d.)  Retrieved May 15, 2011, from
http://www.valleylibrary.ca/main/index.php?pagecontentid=19&demoid=1
                                                         
CBC. (2011, April, 28) Bookmobile to stop running in Halifax Area.Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/04/28/ns-bookmobiles-last-run.html


Eastern Counties Regional Libraries. (n.d.).  Retrieved May 30, 2011, from  http://ecrl.library.ns.ca/main/gy.htm

Garrity, K. (2004). Maritime noon. (Sound recording). Halifax, NS: CBC Radio Canada.


Halifax Public Libraries. (n.d). Retrieved May 10,2011, from    http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/


Keddy, J. Youtube (n.d). Retrieved May 7, 2011,
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atc7qNChnh4


Mackey, L. Mobile service in Canada: Bookmobiles at the crossroads. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla66/papers/161-116e.htm

Picture Credits:

1st picture from the Annapolis Valley Regional Library Facebook page. URL: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.399774224319.174102.288938714319#%21/pages/Annapolis-Valley-Bookmobile-Books-by-Mail/288938714319

2nd picture courtesy of Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library 

AVRL (Annapolis Valley Regional Library)

       The AVRL Bookmobile was the first bookmobile in Canada! It began in 1949, serving Annapolis and Hants Counties with Kings County joining the route in 1970.

        Originally there were two departments within the AVRL that took care of two bookmobiles but the program was cut in 2006 and the departments were amalgamated to become what is now known as Outreach Services. As a result of the amalgamation they lost one of their bookmobiles but gained the newer Books by Mail service. Outreach Services has five full-time staff (a manager, an assistant, two bus drivers, and a coordinator specifically for Books by Mail) and one part-time clerk to help in the summer season. Wendy Kearnes is the current Outreach Services Manager (personal communication, May 26, 2011).

        The bookmobile travels throughout the entire Valley region, paying special attention to more remote rural areas from Bear River area (West), out through Springfield and East Dalhousie areas (South/South-East), and as far as Summerville and Cheverie (East). This mobile library serves 37 regular community stops, with an average of 325 patrons per month. This includes monthly book deposits, by the bookmobile and/or delivery van, to 18 daycares/preschools, 29 schools, and 13 nursing homes. Two people travel on the bookmobile each trip: one driver and one clerk. The manager and assistant take turns being clerk on the bus.

        The bookmobile carries 2,000 items for its patrons to peruse and borrow, and items are loaned out for a four-week period. Patrons in very rural areas borrow a lot of DVDs from the bookmobile, since this is a more convenient option with living so far away from movie rental stores. Juvenile/children’s books are the biggest portion of materials available on the bus, with Inspirational/Religious fiction books also frequently requested through the bookmobile.

       In the winter time bad weather can make travelling in the remote areas very challenging. The decision of cancelling visits due to poor road conditions is left to the discretion of the driver. If a visit is cancelled, Outreach Services does its best to reschedule another visit as soon as possible; they really hate to disappoint their patrons.

      The current bus was originally a school bus from the U.S. When the AVRL bought it, it was completely gutted on the inside so they were able to install custom shelving; however, the bus is not equipped with a lift so it is not wheelchair accessible. It is very well taken care of with regularly servicing; most recently it had a brand new bumper and new tires put on.

                                    

           Although the bus uses diesel fuel to run, as well as fuel the generator for the necessary lighting, heating and cooling components, the staff would love to someday see the bookmobile bus become more  “green,” perhaps using solar power. In fact, one of the bus drivers put together a video to nominate their “green” bookmobile idea to thePEPSI Refresh Project in 2010. (Unfortunately, out of hundreds of submissions, their project was not one chosen for funding.)


          The bookmobile is clearly marked with the AVRL logo along the outside. It has a generator to run the lights, as well as the air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. There’s an “OPEN” flag to hang out when they are parked and available for patrons, and anyone with a library card is welcome aboard to check out materials. If you see the bookmobile parked and open for business, don’t be shy – the staff would love for you to stop and say hello!




A Few Facts & Figures          
From September 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011:
The bookmobile circulated 20,036 items – this is from 33 community stops, not including daycare or nursing home visits.
The bus was open for patrons to visit 30.7 hours per month. Most of their time is spent driving from place to place.
In 2010:
$2,773.00 was spent on diesel to fuel the bus.
$2,013.00 was spent on servicing the bus for the year (oil changes, tune-ups, repairs, etc.).
The bookmobile travelled at total of 21,906km.

AVRL’s Alternate Mobile Library Services
    
         As stated earlier, Books by Mail is part of the new Outreach Services department of the AVRL. It is a relatively new service and, while offered out of the same department it is not competing with the bookmobile.Books by Mail is specifically for people who are physically unable to visit a library branch or the bookmobile, and its users access it on the honour-system (i.e. patrons are not required to provide a doctor’s note). Some folks that access Books by Mail are people who are convalescing and therefore are temporary users, while others are housebound for different reasons and their access is ongoing.
       
          Outreach Services also has a book deposit program. Although the bookmobile currently stops at 29 schools, there is hope to strengthen this relationship and get more schools involved in the future. In the meantime, Outreach Services deposits a box of books to each school on a monthly basis and constantly rotates the boxes throughout the school year. These boxes of books are delivered across the Annapolis Valley by a minivan designated specifically for this service (or sometimes the bookmobile), stopping at 60 locations and making 208 deposits equalling a total of 6,240 books per month. That requires a lot of organization on behalf of the staff!

References
Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bookmobile Service.(n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2011, fromhttp://www.valleylibrary.ca/main/index.php?pagecontentid=19&demoid=1&=SID 

Kearnes, W., Personal Interview, May 26, 2011.
                        
Second picture from: http://www.refresheverything.ca/imagegallery/resize?src=2010/09/30/1285869640/app_image_7852e473812f9b9cf4f9f5e43016982c.jpg&w=530&h=300

CBRL (Cape Breton Regional Library)

        Cape Breton Library currently has two bookmobiles. One serves Cape Breton County, the other Victoria County. Each bookmobile has a supervisor who is responsible for ordering and selecting materials that will go in the bookmobiles. They also handle the budgets and act as staff supervisors to the employees who work on the bookmobiles.
     
       Erin Phillips manages and supervisees the Victoria County bookmobile. Day to day operations are handled by two staff at Victoria County; a driver/clerk and a library assistant. These employees handle scheduling, vehicle maintenance, and circulation of materials. Victoria County just bought a new bus last year. Many of the stops include school stops. These visits help to offer additional material to students  students in addition to their school libraries .
      
       Cape Breton County bookmobile is supervised by Clare MacKillop. This bookmobile has one driver/library assistant who handles all driving, checking in/out materials, scheduling, and maintenance.
      

       Both buses have a main station where the employees can work out of as well as store their overflow of materials. These stations are at Baddeck Public Library and Cape Breton Library Headquarters in Sydney. These vehicles serve a number of communities and public schools alike.



References
Phillips, E. email interview, June 3, 2011

HPL (Halifax Public Libraries)

           Halifax currently uses one bookmobile which has been in operation since 2002.  The mobile library is managed by Kathleen Peverill, Mobile Branch Manager. She handles ordering/selecting material for the mobile library, staff issues, advertising, and scheduling. Every two weeks material is refreshed. It carries over 5000 materials and it also allows patrons to place holds on other HPL material that they can pick up on the mobile branch. It serves five districts and the bookmobile’s “home base” is in Sackville, NS.






      Halifax's bookmobile has just currently been give a one year only extension. With the building of new branches and the very new and exciting central branch being built within the city, library funding, which primarily comes from the municipality as opposed to the province, is being spent elsewhere.

      See more under “Urban Vs. Rural.”


References
Halifax Public Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved June 1, 2011, from http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/branches/locations/mobile-library.html

SSRL (South Shore Regional Library)

     

      The South Shore Regional Library currently uses one bookmobile to serve the two counties of Lunenburg and Queens. In 2008, the Library had two bookmobiles that both needed to be replaced or they needed to end the bookmobile service altogether. The library decided to buy one new bookmobile and to combine two schedules into one. During this process they reviewed stops and tweaked the schedules to meet the changing population and their needs. The new book mobile now stops in one central meeting place in certain areas for longer periods of time as opposed to many stops in many villages/towns. They also bought a new start-up collection for the new bookmobile and added more staff and used staff more efficiently. New procedures were also introduced such as calling patrons who had holds available before they made a stop helped to boost stats. The new bookmobile also has a generator allowing the staff to turn off the bookmobile at stops and use the generator to power electricity. They also turn off lights, air conditioning, etc. depending on the conditions at a stop to maximize resources.
         SSRL views the bookmobile as another branch in addition to the four branches that they’ve always had. When they made the switch to the new bookmobile, staff also implemented a Books by Mail Service as another outreach service. A librarian, Cathy MacDonald, supervises and manages the mobile branch. She is responsible for scheduling, staff management, and book mobile finances. Schedules are looked at every six months to see if things are working and what needs to be changed. There are two main staff people who man the vehicle and also act as library clerks. They buy their gas at a reduced rate from the town as another means to save money.
            The budget for the bookmobile’s collection is “sacred” according to MacDonald and they never touch this money for any other reason. It is another way in which the library can guarantee quality material and service for its patrons and it’s a big reason why patrons keep returning. The collection is constantly being added to/weeded etc. to ensure that fresh material is presented to the patrons. MacDonald feels that you need to be flexible and accommodating to the communities you are serving. For example, the day the bookmobile is scheduled to make a stop somewhere that whole community may be attending a funeral. The bookmobile will try to accommodate that community accordingly.

           Another good point MacDonald made is that a bookmobile is a meeting place, a community gathering for people. With the closure of many rural post offices, a bookmobile is becoming that new place where you can meet and talk to other members of the community.  As well, it is something that the people can see what their tax dollars are being spent on and appreciate it.

         As a result of all the new changes to the Book Mobile service, the statistics for the SSRL bookmobile have consistently risen since they first introduced the new mobile library. In 2008 their circulation stats for two bookmobiles was 48,000. In the 2010-2011 year after the new vehicle was introduced, the stats were 57, 570, and this is with less stops.

References

MacDonald, C. Personal Interview, June 6, 2011

Picture courtesy of : 



http://www.southshorepubliclibraries.ca/library-services/services/about-us/locations/outreach-services

Urban Vs. Rural

Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library Bookmobile 1991


        The bookmobile service within the Halifax Public Libraries serves residents of many locations in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Such areas include Musquodoboit Valley, Lake Echo, Eastern Passage, and Porter’s Lake. The role of the mobile library is to provide library materials for both adults and children. There are approximately 5,000 materials offered to patrons, and they are replaced every two weeks. Materials that are available on the bookmobile represent a portion of materials (books, CDs, DVDs, magazines) offered in HRM library branches. Patrons can place holds on materials from any branch with the assistance of branch staff or online and can pick them up on the bookmobile. 

      Ultimately, the bookmobile’s role within the HRM is to provide library services for those who are unable to get to a branch, or those who find it more convenient than travelling the distance to one of 14 branches.

      Recently, the government decided to cut the bookmobile service in the HRM due to a number of factors. However, after much debate and backlash, the bookmobile service was given a second chance and now will run for another year. It is important to analyze statistics in order to understand why this decision was made in the first place.  According to a recent library review, the mobile library service has been declining for several years, and many residents in bookmobile areas are already using branches. Approximately 170 families in the HRM use the service, and it costs over $300,000 per year to run. This is a high cost considering only one percent of the roughly 5 million items borrowed from branches each year are borrowed from the mobile library. Recent statistics for this year are even more grim, supporting the government’s decision to end the service. For 2010/2011, only 1.3 percent of the 4.9 million materials circulated were checked out from the bookmobile. Also, a recent survey has indicated that only 175 people in Nova Scotia currently use the service. Therefore, taxpayers are left to cover a $290,000 operating bill for the small portion of people that use the service.

       Although statistics show that the majority of HRM residents do not use the mobile service as much as in previous years, there are still some areas that will suffer from its demise.  For example, in areas such as Fall River, public schools depend on the service to augment thin budgets for their own libraries, and senior citizens use the service for ease of access. However, the HRM library system is ready to offer alternatives for when the book mobile service is terminated in a year’s time. For example, rural areas are now being assigned a library branch where they can use the books by mail service. Some areas in NS run successful bookmobile services, even having increases of over 5 percent per year; however the large majority of HRM use other methods for obtaining library materials.




Colchester-East Hants Bookmobile 1991



References

Halifax Public Libraries. (n.d). Retrieved June 1, 2011, from http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/branches/locations/mobile-library.html


Haligonia. (27, April 2011). HRM Cutting the Only Remaining Bookmobile in the City This     Year. Retrieved  May 15, 2011, from headlines/19768-hrm-bookmobile-cut-discontinued-halifax-library.html

MacDonald, B. (2011, May 30). Technology Speeds by the Beloved but CostlyBookmobile.  Dartmouth-HRM East Community Herald, pp 3,5.

Pictures courtesy of Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library

Bookmobiles Vs Books by Mail

 Article from: Brenda MacDonald. May 30, 2011. Dartmouth-HRM East Community Herald. Technology speeds by the beloved but costly bookmobile. Pages 3 & 5.
       With our ever-changing world, our society seems to prefer getting things as easy as possible. With things like Netflix and iTunes we even seem to prefer things handed right to us. With that in mind, it is no surprise that libraries in Nova Scotia are now offering a service called books by mail. Books by mail is a service available to people who can not use the bookmobile or get to a branch library. For the most part it is for people who are disabled, in care of a disabled person, or just has no way to get to a bookmobile or branch library. Is it then no surprise to learn that libraries are offering books by mail service?

         Books by Mail is a free service that sends books to users through the mail. Sound familiar? In fact, Books by Mail is very close to the Bookmobile service. They both run the same way, essentially bringing the books to you. The differences between the two are rather small actually. For example Books by Mail doesn’t cost anything for late fees. Does this make it any better though?

       In trying to figure out if Bookmobiles are going to last we’ve come across similar services, and none seem as similar as Books by Mail. So are Books by Mail going to take over? In a study I found that investigated this within NS, PEI and Newfoundland said that Bookmobiles were seen as the better service. Of course this study was from 1976, making me wonder if almost 30 years later it would still be the same. 

        Books by Mail works the same as a book mobile or a branch library would. You can order books from within the library and have them shipped to you. Like with a normal library you have three weeks.  There is no late fee but you cannot get more books until the late ones are taken back. [1]In order to use this service you do have to sign up for it. Everything that you can get in a library is available to you with this service as well.





References
Cumberland  Public Libraries. (n.d.) Retrieved June 1, 2011, from www.cumberlandpubliclibraires.ca/index.php?pagecontenid+567&demoid=1&linkid=10

Eastern Counties Regional Library. (n.d.). Retrieved June 1, 2011 , from www.ecrl.library.ca.ca

Halifax Regional Library. (n.d.). Books by mail. Retrieved May 25, 2001, from www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/services/borrowing/books-by-mail.html

Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library.(n.d.) Books by mail. Retrieved June 4, 2011 from www.parl.ns.ca/locations/booksbymail.html.

 Article from: Brenda MacDonald. May 30, 2011. Dartmouth-HRM East Community Herald. Technology speeds by the beloved but costly bookmobile. Pages 3 & 5.

Our conclusion: The future of bookmobiles in Nova Scotia

After much research and deliberation it appears as though bookmobiles are more necessary in some parts of the province than others. After looking at “Urban Vs. Rural” it is rather obvious that Halifax is struggling to keep their bookmobile running, and with so many branches within a small area of the province it seems that a bookmobile is not as vital. On the contrary, in the rural and more remote areas of Nova Scotia, such as the Annapolis Valley and South Shore, a bookmobile seems to remain both a privilege and a luxury in some parts. It is much more difficult for patrons to reach a library branch in such places, so offering the convenience of a mobile library makes much more sense and is still necessary. In addtion, in light of the continuing cuts to school libraries in Nova Scotia, bookmobiles are being called on more and more to supply information and resources to students who may not be able to access the variety and quantity of materials at their own school libraries.

         These mobile library services will continue to be modified over time as patrons’ needs change and as books themselves transition from fewer print books to more electronic versions. The trend towards sustainability has potential to bring about some future modifications to the vehicles, such as fuel efficiency and “greener” sources of power to run the lights and computers on board. A solar powered inverter was already suggested as a possibility when the AVRL submitted an idea to the Pepsi Refresh Project in 2010. (Check out their video submission below.)




        As well, here’s a more modern twist on the old favourite: the digital bookmobile. In the United States they outfitted an 18-wheeler that has travelled around the country promoting digital materials including audiobooks, eBooks, music and video. This 78-foot tractor trailer houses an “interactive learning environment” with several HDTVs, sound systems, computer stations with wireless Internet access, and a variety of portable devices to sample. The more traditional bookmobile, sponsored by digital media distributer OverDrive, Inc., raises awareness of the types of available media offered for download through a website called the “Virtual Branch.”

         Since mobile book services are not provincially governed or funded, it makes logical sense to leave the bookmobile’s fate in the hands of the individual county public libraries. 



         Will bookmobiles survive the inevitable evolution into the digital age, or will they become nothing more than a nostalgic piece of history? Perhaps one of the keys to success would be to find sponsors to fund the program and maintain the vehicles. With the introduction of the digital bookmobile there’s certainly potential for combining an old idea with new technology, making bookmobiles a more sustainable service in Nova Scotia.


References

Annapolis Valley Regional Library Pepsi Refresh. Retrieved June 16, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6-1n-eN1Jw&feature=related

Digital Bookmobile.(n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2011, from  www.digitalbookmobile.com




Blog Authors:


Kirstin Daley
Andrea Dawe
Jaime Dennison
Tarah Farrow