Bookmobile cruises across the county to promote reading

Since 1962, Sidney Public Library's bookmobile has been traveling around Cheyenne County giving locals of all ages to opportunity to check out books.

"The bookmobile allows us to provide library services beyond the brick-and-mortar of the building. With it, we can deliver print and audio books to the children and adults at preschools, schools, retirement homes and neighboring villages that can't get to the library on their own," said library director Andrew Sherman. "These customers also tend to be the ones that our digital resources, like Overdrive, may not work well for."

The bookmobile travels 10 months out of the year to local pre-schools, elementary schools and retirement homes. The bookmobile makes stops at Grace Gardens Pre-school, Saint Paul's Pre-school, the Learning Korner, Kids Korner, Head Start, Sidney Community Pre-school, Creek Valley Elementary School, Creek Valley Middle School, Leyton Elementary School, the Dalton post office, the Gurley post office, Potter-Dix Elementary School and Potter-Dix Early Learn.

Vickie Morlock has been driving the bookmobile for 11 years.

"We get funding from the county, therefore we are a countywide service," Morlock said.

When she arrives at each location, she will park in front of the building and each group will be able to get on the bus and sit down before being able to pick out a book from their assigned section.

"I will wait out front, and many times the students are waiting for me because they're excited," she said. "Once they get their book I tell them to come up and I'll "beep" it for you. They love the sound of the beep when they check out the book."

Each person with a book will then have it scanned and officially checked out of the system.

Morlock said teachers usually will have all of the books checked out on their card and students will leave the books in their classroom until the next visit.

Locals in the Sidney city limits who may be homebound are also able to take advantage of the library on wheels.

"Even though I'm only down to one person right now, I'm still going to keep doing it," she said. "You just never know if the hospital might send someone home and they aren't able to get around as easily. It's mainly for people who can't just get in their car and come to the library."

Sloan Estates, SRMC Extended Care, Golden Living Center and Western Heritage are included in the bookmobile's route.

"One of the primary missions of the library is to provide equal services and access to all of the members of our community, and the bookmobile enables that library to do so." Sherman said.

Dec. 16 will be the last route of the year. The bookmobile will resume services on Jan. 4.