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