Northeast Colorado bids farewell to Book Mobile Services

After more than 60 years of service, the Northeast Colorado Bookmobile Services will quietly fade into the pages of history.

The mobile library has made its final rounds to area communities and finding homes for the immense collection of books will be no small undertaking. Plans are being made now for multiple books sales throughout the summer, donations to organizations, recycling events, give-a-ways and more.

The Bookmobile has been providing library benefits, including mobile library services to six counties in northeast Colorado and will leave a bittersweet feeling in the hearts of many patrons and library staff members alike.

It started out as a demonstration project for the Colorado State Library in 1959 and was officially created on Feb. 10, 1961 when an agreement was reached with the County Commissioners of Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Washington, Yuma and later Phillips counties.

The bookmobile traveled over 20,000 miles a year and had a circulation of more than 167,000 books. The library, which is said to have a collection of one time of 66,000 books, also distributed books via courier, mail, makes home deliveries to shut-ins and has provided summer reading programs, reading contests and story time on board the bookmobile. The bookmobile made about 65-75 stops each four week period to schools, preschools, libraries, communities without libraries, health care facilities, senior centers, nursing homes, day care centers, prisons and more.

The decision to eliminate the service was made when supporting counties collectively decided to no longer fund the services.

If you have an interest in books, would like to help in the distribution of books or have an organization who could benefit from books on any topic, call Anna at (970) 332-4715.