Section 9: Bookmobiles

Definition: A bookmobile is a traveling branch library. It consists of at least all of the following:

  • a truck or van that carries an organized collection of library materials;
  • a paid staff; and
  • regularly scheduled hours (bookmobile stops) for being open to the public.

If you reported on operation of a mobile library in the previous report year, a record is provided to you for each mobile library operation you reported, indicating your last year’s description of that operation. Where corrections or updates are appropriate, please make those changes in the space provided.

Please contact support@countingopinions.com if you have new or closed mobile libraries to report.

If no bookmobiles, leave blank.

9.5 Name of bookmobile

9.6-9.10 Street Address.

(pre-filled by CSL) Street address where bookmobile is stationed when not in use, including city, county, ZIP and ZIP+4.

Note: Please notify us of major changes to the address only such as an obvious error or a completely new address is needed.

9.11 Phone

Telephone number, with area code, for general public use.

9.12 Type

Bookmobile/Van/Other

9.13 Make

9.14 Model

9.15 Year

Year of manufacture of the bookmobile, i.e., the model year.

9.16 Chassis Manufacturer

Company that manufactured the bookmobile.

9.17 What type of fuel powers the engine of your bookmobile?

Drop-down menu with options including:

  • Diesel
  • Gasoline
  • Pure electric with battery
  • Hybrid (gas/diesel and electric)
  • Natural Gas
  • Other

9.18 Length

In feet.

9.19 Book capacity

In Volumes

9.20 Total Mileage

Miles traveled per year

9.21 Number of Stops

Number of individual stops on route per week

9.22 Actual, Annual Service Hours

Actual total hours in public service for the reporting year (omit travel time) the bookmobile was in service.

9.23 Actual Weeks per Year

Actual total Number of weeks in public service for the year.

9.24 Librarians on vehicle

Report FTE for librarians spent working on or with the vehicle.

9.25 Driver/clerks on vehicle

Report FTE (40 hours/wk = 1 FTE)

9.26 Support Staff off vehicle

Total FTE for any non-librarian staff time spent off vehicle in support of bookmobile activities.

9.27 Circulation Total

Total materials circulation per year.

9.28 Yearly operating and maintenance cost.

Examples: fuel, maintenance, repair, labor and parts. Do not include personnel costs.

9.29 Number of Internet Terminals

Report the number of the bookmobile’s Internet computers (personal computers and laptops), whether purchased, leased, or donated, used by the general public in the vehicle.