Developing Community of Readers Through Book Mobile in Today’s New Learning Environment

by Fe Angela Verzosa

What are Book Mobile Libraries?

A bookmobile is a vehicle converted to serve as a

mini library.

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The vehicle has shelves to hold books. Usually, it

has a small reception place, as well as a small

room for readers.

These customized vehicles are used to take

books to readers in locations without brick and

mortar libraries, or to supply books to people who

cannot access libraries.

What are Book Mobile Libraries?

any library service that

does not stay in one place

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The term is mainly used to

describe a mobile vehicle

that carries library materialInternational Federation of

Library Associations (IFLA)

Source: http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/publications/professional-report/123.pdf

The perambulating library of 1858 operating in a circle of

eight villages in

Cumbria, United

Kingdom, was an 1857

project of a Victorian

merchant and

philanthropist, George

Moore, to "diffuse good

literature among the

rural population.“

WikipediaIt loaned more than 12,000 books

during its first year of operation.

In the US, the first Book Wagon, Washington County (Maryland)

Free Library, 1905-1910 served rural areas with a mule-drawn

wagon carrying wooden boxes of books. - Wikipedia

Britain's first mobile libraryA 1920 Ford van carrying hundreds of books around

Perth and Kinross in Scotland in 1921 was in regular

use for 10 years.

Munich started its third-ever mobile library in Germany in 1928 in

a tram. There were 3000 books on board and the tram drove on

rails to 8 stations within the city. This tram was used for 42 years.

Role of Mobile Libraries

“The overall objective of a mobile library service is to

The early book mobiles served to deal with illiteracy and

promote reading in remote areas.

“The overall objective of a mobile library service is to

promote equity of service provision by enhancing the

opportunity of access to library services. A mobile

library provides the most flexible of library service, not

being restricted to any particular population center

and able to respond to the needs of fluctuating

populations.” International Federation of Library Associations

The world’s successful

bookmobiles

Bookmobiles and mobile libraries can be found throughout the world. In addition to standard bookmobiles, camels, donkeys, and elephants have all been used to pull book wagons. Some areas use boats and motorbikes to transport books.

Robi Mobile LibraryGermany

This Bookmobile Project is

primarily based in Montreal

and Philadelphia. It is a

trailer converted into a

small mobile gallery and

library .

This is a Railway carriage from Thailand converted into a library and IT center in cooperation with the local police force to give street kids some education and try and keep them in a safe environment

MOLLY – Singapore’s National Library Board's newly retrofitted Mobile Library bus

Molly, Singapore’s

Bookmobile

it served more than

230,000 users with about

half a million book loans

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The improved Molly is equipped with eight iPads

for easy access to NLB’s eResources and

interactive applications that children can have fun

with.

Source: http://sglinks.com/pages/2860750-nlb-launches-molly-reloaded-mobile-library-aims-extend-reach

Books –on-the-go Mobile Library in Kenya, South Africa

Bookmobiles in Kenya

Today’s mobile buses in Kenya have computers and

•Vans were converted to mobile libraries in 1977 by

the government of Kenya with the help of donors.

Today’s mobile buses in Kenya have computers and

internet access for people with needs beyond the

stock of books, but they also have the Camels.

•The Camel Mobile Library was set up by the government-owned Kenya National Library Service to improve literacy rates in the north-east.“A static library would be of no use to nomads and so

instead we follow them, wherever they go.”

Kenyan Camel Library caravan

http://www.afroautos.com/customized-improvised/the-book-mobile-mobile-

libraries-in-kenya

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/africa_kenyan_camel_lib

rary/html/1.stm

Bookmobiles in Kenya

•“We start early in the morning and work Monday to Thursday. Each box contains 200 books. One camel carries two boxes of books. Another carries the tent and the third one carries our things. We have nine camels - three caravans.”

•caravans go to 12 different sites•3,500 registered members •each child is allowed to borrow two books. •they have 14 days before we return to the same place (some 400km from the capital, Nairobi)

•then they can renew the books or borrow another two

Donkey libraries in

Ethiopia

The first yellow mobile library started travelling in 2006, and now there are six running a circuit from school to school and from village to village bringing books to children.

The donkey library is designed to exact The donkey library is designed to exact specifications:

It must hold a treasure trove of books,

have space to hold stools for seating,

and contain a special compartment for

food for the donkey..

The Library Tram

The Library Tram

An old tram car was transformed into a lively color

mobile library in Brno, Czech Republic.

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---The Library Tram travels every day on a 70 km route,

teaching not only about library services, but, most importantly,

about benefits of digital reading.

---Visitors can scan QR codes with their mobile phones to

access library’s website, search the catalog, and download

free samples of selected ebooks.

---This innovative mobile library 2.0 was awarded first place in

the 12th IFLA International Marketing Award 2014.

MV Logos Hope floating library

The vessel belongs to GBA Ships, a charity organization

based in Germany (GBA means “Gute Bücher für Alle” –

Good Books for All).

The Floating Library

MV Logos

The ship travels around the world, promoting

good literature and raising money for charity

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exhibiting over 7,000 books, ranging from

education to technology, history, philosophy, art,

and fiction.

• With 500 crew and guests that can be

accommodated in 200 cabins

• enough to hold up to 1,000 visitors at any time

Bibliomotocarro

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“Antonio La Cava is a retired schoolteacher from Ferrandina,

Italy.

After 42 years of teaching he asked himself what more he

could do to spread the love of reading among children.

In 2003 he bought a used Ape motorbike and heavily

modified it to house 700 books.

Ever since he travels the Italian countryside, bringing books

to villages in the region of Basilicata.”

Luis Soriano Borges takes his “bibliodonkeys” Alfa and Beto through the mountain villages of Columbia to bring books to children.

The Camelback Library

The Camel Back Library

Dashdondog Jamba has traveled more than 50,000

miles through every province of Mongolia

• Over the last 20 years, his library has traveled

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• Over the last 20 years, his library has traveled

50,000 miles through every province of

Mongolia—mostly before the van was part of the

operation.

• Jamba’s assistants are his wife and his son. They

often spend several days in one place to give as

many children as possible a chance to read their

books.

Elephant Mobile Library

The Elephant Mobile

Library in Laos

Room to Read Laos teamed up with two other NGOs

(Action with Lao Children and ElefantAsia) as well as

the local government to implement the first ever

Elephant Mobile Library.

“The perfect mode of

delivery for remote

communities”….

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communities”….

---Stocked with 640 Lao-language children’s books (many

featuring elephants) and supplementary educational materials,

the library’s maiden voyage included four primary schools that

served more than 1,000 students.

---Today, the activity continues with literacy games, songs,

storytelling circles, and comprehension exercises

http://blog.roomtoread.org/room-to-read/2011/12/elephant-mobile-library-treats-young-readers-in-laos-to-a-day-they-will-never-forget.html

Thailand has a long history of mobile libraries, where elephants have been

used to transport books to remote areas. The Books-by-Elephant program

continues to travel a twenty day journey spending a few days in each

village. Today, the supplies include laptops and satellite dish connections to

the Internet. Source: http://eduscapes.com/history/contemporary/1930.htm

http://www.cambodiacircles.com/articles/184/mobile-library-a-new-window-to

Mobile Libraries in

Cambodia

�� SIPAR is a non-governmental organization

� has eight mobile libraries operating daily in 100 sites in suburb

areas in Cambodia since 2000

�at least 3000 books within one mobile library

�One mobile library goes to two targeted places within a day

�Activities - story-telling, games, painting pictures

�Total Cambodge, world’s fifth largest oil and gas company,

signed a contract to support SIPAR by providing fuel

Bike-powered Mobile Libraries

The NLP Bookmobile

Services

Books on Wheels or Bookmobiles form an integral part of

Fourteen (14) Bookmobile units cater to rural areas by

selected public libraries in the country. Due to budget

constraints, there have been no additional units acquired by

NLP for the past recent years.- CONSAL COUNTRY REPORT 2010

Books on Wheels or Bookmobiles form an integral part of

the library system. They can serve as vital links between

local governments and members of the community, can

give direct access to the under privileged segment of our

populace, can serve as aids in the various programs of the

national government and can stimulate good reading habits

in the rural areas where there are no libraries or reading

centers. Source: http://web.nlp.gov.ph/nlp/?q=node/1257

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/mobile-library-brings-back-books-

typhoon-affected-children-n242066

Beep Beep Books Project

• Beep Beep Books is a mobile book library

project of Pandoo Foundation to provide story

books and hope to the children in disaster-hit

areas

• Project collects new and used books, puts

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• Project collects new and used books, puts

together “starter sets” of 100 children’s books to

help school libraries restart, then delivers them

to remote rural communities with a team of

storytellers and teachers

• Funding comes from local donations, the It

Matters Initiative, and the Pandoo Foundation

Museo PambataMobile Library

• had its beginning in 1995 after the opening of

Museo Pambata with a Tamaraw FX carrying

50 books and a simple sign that read "Museo

Pambata Mobile Library“

• in 2001, through a grant from Ford Foundation

Philippines, a “dream mobile library van” was

inaugurated - a six-wheeler Isuzu NPR truck

• carrying at least 300 children's books and other learning aids• conducting numerous storytelling and book-lending sessions around Manila• reaching provinces such as Laguna and Batangas• after 8 years, it had to undergo countless automotive repairs and parts replacements, due to wear and tear incurred during its travels.

Museo PambataMobile Library

• refurbishment of the van began in July 2011 with

support from Pilipinas Hino Inc.

• Metrobank Foundation also gave a grant to

support the Mobile Library’s programs.

• Read more here:http://www.museopambata.org/advocacies.html

http://mpmobilelibrary.blogspot.com/

Activities include: storytelling, art workshop, games, andSnacks are provided free. Token souvenirs are given to children after.

Gota de Leche moms and kids visited the Museo Pambata mobile library February 2014 (see next photo)

The Davao City Mobile Library Project

The first mobile library bus was

donated by the Japanese

government to the National

Library, and subsequently turned

over to the City Government of

Davao. The mobile library service

began on June 15, 1981 with two

junior librarians and a driver.

Another airconditioned

Bus was acquired by

Mayor Sara Duterte-

Carpio equipped with

laptops and

multimedia projector.

From an initial collection of 2000 books, it now rotates 5,819 volumes.

The mobile library service The mobile library service

prioritizes its target audience in

districts 2 and 3 where residents

have no access.

Other target clients:

1. Indigenous people

2. Mentally challenged

3. Persons with

Disabilities

Accomplishments

In 2014, the Mobile Library served---24 public elementary schools in districts 2 & 3

---Free services, such as book lending, story----Free services, such as book lending, story-telling, film viewing, and basics in computer literacy were also provided on case-to-case basis to private schools.

---Free services were also extended to public parks and recreation areas, such as Osmenaand People’s parks

Mobile Library Services as of October 2014

Book lending - 14,673Story-telling - 15,524Film viewing - 4,079Basics in computer literacy - 348

TOTAL - 34,624

The NLP Book Mobile

Project

The Rotary Club of Boracay mobile library was conceptualized in 2006

during the term of Past President Delnora Nano. By Boracay Sun on 14Jan 2014

De La Salle Lipa City's Book Mobile and Reading Program (BMRP) was supported by Pusong Pinoy. “Through a transportable library and a guided reading program, the De La Salle BMRP is a response and commitment to develop children's reading skills directed towards increased functional literacy.” Beneficiaries of this outreach program were 3,000+ grades 1-3 children from eight public schools in Lipa City .

Byaheng Bukmobil – Raul S. Roco Library (Naga, Camarines Sur)• Deploys the city’s Book Mobile to public schools in far-flung barangays. • Enhances learning in public schools and inculcates love for reading. • To generate more readers, a local personality is brought in to do story-telling. • Beneficiaries of this project are 10 schools located in the city’s upland and agricultural barangays whose distance from the Library makes commuting expensive for their pupils.

Mobile Libraries

Act of 2013

Former President and now Pampanga 2nd district

Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her son

Camarines Sur

Rep. Diosdado Arroyo

are pushing for the

creation of mobile libraries

to encourage Filipinos to read,

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to encourage Filipinos to read,

sponsoring House Bill 2644 or the “Mobile Libraries

Act of 2013″.Under the bill, a P100 million budget from the earnings of the

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and

the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office will be used for the

creation of mobile libraries.Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/arroyos-push-for-mobile-libraries/#lzD7tpyAXpEqv4p4.99

IFLA Mobile Library

Guidelines

• What activities to include

• Services Provision – areas to

cover, no. of stops, frequency,

population profile/needs, etc

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• What activities to include

• Funding support

• Staffing

• Transport System

• Collections to build

• Furniture & equipment

• Facilitieshttp://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/publications/professional-report/123.pdf

IFLA Mobile Library

Guidelines

• Physical and locational

PLANNING TIPS

Considerations must be

given to the following:

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• Physical and locational

• Human factor

• Climate and weather

• Vehicle costs

(maintenance, fuel, etc)

• Collection consideration

and materials rotation

• Marketing / promotionhttp://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/publications/professional-report/123.pdf

“The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to teach them to read, and to show them that reading is a pleasurable activity. And that means, at its simplest, finding books that they enjoy, giving them access to those books, and letting them read them.”

We are done!

Congratulations!

Fe Angela M. Verzosa 60

University of Mindanao (Matina Campus), Davao City, 2 December 2015

Questions ?

famverzosa@yahoo.com

References

Beep Beep Book Projecthttp://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/mobile-library-brings-back-books-typhoon-

affected-children-n242066

Museo Pambata : http://www.museopambata.org/advocacies.htmlPusong Pinoy: http://pusongpinoyorg.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

Extraordinary Mobile libraries;•http://ebookfriendly.com/extraordinary-mobile-libraries/

http://www.fahrbibliothek.de/

•http://ebookfriendly.com/extraordinary-mobile-libraries/

•http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine_books_blog/2012/06/a-field-guide-to-mobile-

libraries.phtml

•https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/12152.24.169.0/world/the-camelback-library

•http://blog.roomtoread.org/room-to-read/2011/12/elephant-mobile-library-treats-young-

readers-in-laos-to-a-day-they-will-never-forget.html

•http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/africa_kenyan_camel_library/ht

ml/1.stm

•https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishlibraries/2492551548

•http://www.cambodiacircles.com/articles/184/mobile-library-a-new-window-to

•http://www.bibliobuses.com/documentos/Bibliobuses%20en%20Alemania.pdf

•http://eduscapes.com/history/contemporary/1930.htm

•http://www.lifesomundane.net/2011/02/real-magic-of-bmrp.html