Library Seeking Bookmobile Memories
February 9, 2015 (Helena, MT)—Do you remember the Bookmobile? For the past two years, the NEW Lewis & Clark Library Bookmobile has been cruising around the county bringing library services to those who can’t access the Main Branch of the Library. But before the new, state of the art, mobile branch arrived in the fall of 2012, your Lewis & Clark Library had another bookmobile, one that took books to individuals all over Lewis and Clark County as well as into Broadwater, Madison, Beaverhead, and Jefferson County.
The Helena Independent Record reported on February 23, 1964 that “Helena Will Be Headquarters For Five - County Bookmobile.” The Helena Public Library served as the headquarters for this free library service partnership, with several smaller libraries contributing resources to the project. Great Falls Public Library had enjoyed successful bookmobile services for years prior to the announcement of the Helena bookmobile service and was in the process of replacing their existing bookmobile in 1964 and lent Helena their old bookmobile to use until funds could be secured to purchase a new vehicle for Helena.
“We know that Bookmobile Service began in 1964 and ran sporadically through 1967, but we would like to fill in the missing gaps with information from our community members who remember using the bookmobile in the mid-1960s,” explained Lewis & Clark Library Director Judy Hart. “So far, what information we do know has been collected from going through past issues of the Independent Record, now we’d like to add more personal stories.”
“Many people have fond memories of bookmobiles, it was those stories that inspired us to work on acquiring this newest bookmobile,” explains Lewis & Clark Library Foundation Board Member Dennis Taylor.
Bookmobile Librarian Bretagne Byrd would like to compile a collection of stories about Helena’s original bookmobile so that the Library can have an official history of bookmobile service. “People frequently tell us that they remember the original bookmobile, and it would be great to put together a formal collection of those stories so that we have a history of Bookmobile service to Lewis and Clark County.”
Please send your stories, memories, or photos of the original bookmobile to:
Bretagne Byrd, Bookmobile Librarian
Lewis & Clark Library
120 S. Last Chance Gulch
Ph: 406-447-1690 x131
Or email them to Bretagne at: BByrd@lclibrary.org. For more information check out our website at www.lclibrary.org and Remember, There’s Always Something Going On @ Your Lewis & Clark Library!
-30-