Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library has a new mobile library, a Mercedes Sprinter Van that continues the library’s legacy of previous bookmobiles and traveling libraries that provided a platform to bring library services to the community.
The mobile library will hit the road Tuesday, June 22, 2021, and will officially be launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, June 25, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Christiansburg Library.
For the 2021 summer season, the mobile library will visit 24 locations throughout Montgomery and Floyd counties, in a three-week cycle. At each stop MFRL will provide books and other material for check-out, Wi-Fi access, and printing from patrons’ mobile devices and will assist visitors with their questions. Library staff will demonstrate how to access the eBook and eAudio collections and will help patrons request items that are on the branch shelves.
“Transportation to the four branches of our library can be a challenge for many people whether they live further out, don’t have a car, or just have tight schedules,” said Library Director Karim Khan. “Our mobile library gives the library new ways to reach out with the variety of services we offer, from kids’ picture books to help with résumés and job applications. Many people in Montgomery and Floyd remember the bookmobiles that served the community in the past. We have planned routes and services that will build on that history of friendly professional service.”
The MFRL mobile library van features Sock Monkey, the star of a series of children’s books by Montgomery County author and artist Cece Bell. Sock Monkey has been featured on MFRL’s children’s library cards for many years. Bell has won the Eisner Award and a Newbery Medal Honor for her book El Deafo.
The mobile library was purchased by Montgomery County with funding from the 2020 federal CARES Act. Technology on the mobile library was enhanced by the support of the Floyd Library Endowment. Customization of the van for library use was completed by Mathews Specialty Vehicles of Greensboro.
The public is invited to join the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library and the Montgomery
County Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
