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
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/
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
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