Bookmobile fund-raising continues
In the year that Nora Conte has been the head librarian for San
Benito County, resources have been refocused on the San Benito
County Free Library.
Bookmobile fund-raising continues
In the year that Nora Conte has been the head librarian for San Benito County, resources have been refocused on the San Benito County Free Library.
“When you are a library manager you are the keeper of knowledge in the community,” Conte said. “It is important to keep things up to date.”
While one of the biggest enhancements to library services – a fully-equipped bookmobile – is at least two years away from completion, other changes can be seen with a quick walk around the Fifth Street building.
At the front entrance, shelves hold new releases and best sellers. The best sellers list for fiction and non-fiction is posted so patrons can ask to reserve books on loan from other libraries. Shelves have been moved aside to open up the children’s area. A colorful rug and baskets of hardcover toddler’s books are easily in reach of small hands. The media offerings, which include DVDs and books with CDs, have been expanded. A desktop computer in the children’s area is dedicated to homework help. The circulation and reference desks have been combined to allow more space for tabletops and chairs in a study area.
Other changes are harder to see, but their impact can be felt.
With support from the County Board of Supervisors, the library has increased its staff. The library now has a full-time adult reference librarian, a part-time children’s librarian and a library assistant working with the adult literacy program.
The adult literacy program has grown to include nearly 30 tutors and training continues for new tutors.
“I worked in concert with the [county administrative officer] and the board of supervisors to support a vision of a vibrant library,” Conte said.
When she first took the job last October, Conte made a point of going out to community meetings with groups such as Rotary, the Lion’s Club and others to find out what they saw as library needs.
“When we went out, two things kept surfacing,” she said. “People were concerned about adult literacy and the second thing was the bookmobile.”
It had been years since the county had run the service and Conte at first asked the Board of Supervisors for $15,000 to fix up the old vehicle.
“They didn’t want to [approve] it because they felt it was not salvageable,” Conte said.
She started looking at the cost of purchasing and stocking a new bookmobile. On Aug. 28, when the supervisors officially approved the 2007-2008 budget, they earmarked $200,000 for a new book bus.
Conte has done research on the types of bookmobiles used in surrounding communities, such as Santa Clara, Mountain View and other areas.
“Some are strictly for seniors,” she said. “Others are focused on technology and have no books. Other types focus on the needs of small children.”
The bookmobile for San Benito County will be built with the services that will be offered in mind. Since the mobile library will visit people of all ages, it will carry books and other media for people from babies to senior citizens. In addition, the bookmobile will have computers as part of outreach for the adult literacy program. According to a recent newsletter from the Friends of the Library, 23 percent of residents in the county are functionally illiterate.
“We want to develop programs that are tailor-made for the community,” Conte said.
It will still be one and half to two years before the bookmobile is up and running because the vehicle has to be custom-made. In addition to spaces for books, computer stations and an awning, the vehicle will also need to maneuver the rural parts of the county.
“We want to go into Paicines,” Conte said. “We don’t want a vehicle strictly for city purposes.”
During the time that the van is being manufactured, the Friends of the Library are orchestrating fund-raisers for the other equipment needed for the bookmobile. Hardware and technology – computer equipment and software – will cost $21,000-plus. Artwork for the bus will run $10,000 to $15,000 and other costs include an awning for shade as well as books to stock the new vehicle.
The library has about 60,000 titles, which includes books, DVDS, magazines and other items. The goal for the bookmobile is to collect 50,000-60,000 new titles, and then add 25,000 each year.
“The idea is to rotate the collection,” Conte said.
Duplicates would be purchased of classics and other popular books that would likely be checked out frequently, but other books would rotate from the main library to the bookmobile.
The staff has been working on weeding out old or worn out copies of books so donations of new books are always welcome. New books will be accepted for the library and bookmobile collections at the library, while used books will be sold through the Friends of the Library as fund-raisers for children’s programs.
Conte approached other county organizations to form a “Caring Community Collaborative” with First 5 of San Benito County, San Benito County government, the San Benito County Superintendent of Schools, the Hollister School District and the Friends of the Library. They have raised $42,950.
For more information as fund-raising continues contact the library staff at 636-4107 or visit www.sanbenitofl.org. Book donations are accepted at the library desk at 470 Fifth St. or in the book bin in the foyer for the Friends of the Library.
