The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved funds for a
bookmobile in the 2007-08 budget. Pending the budget’s approval
expected Aug. 28, the county will pay $219,000 for the purchase of
a mobile library to provide books and services to residents in
rural areas.
Hollister – As early as next year, rural San Benito County residents will have the chance to check out books and gain access to other library services much closer to home.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved funds for a bookmobile in the 2007-08 budget. Pending the budget’s approval expected Aug. 28, the county will pay $219,000 for the purchase of a mobile library to provide books and services to residents in rural areas.
County Librarian Nora Conte said the bookmobile, absent in the community since it lost funding in 2004, was an important asset to the county. It is especially important because the county has many of those rural areas, Conte said.
“We have a population of 57,000 and we only have one library,” Conte said. “It’s very difficult because there’s mobility issues for young children and senior citizens, and others because of the cost of gas. So we need to get that out there to them.”
Because the old bookmobile was deemed unusable, Conte said she’s looking into purchasing a new one at a good price. In the coming months, the library staff will decide what kind of services to offer at the bookmobile and what stops it will make. The staff will also pursue other community donations, Conte said.
With luck, the bookmobile will be up and running within one year to 16 months, she said.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz noted how the board unanimously supported the mobile library.
“We felt that it was in the best interest of our community to fund that,” he said.
Supervisor Reb Monaco said residents in the south county area he represents would welcome the bookmobile. His own children had often used the bookmobile growing up, he said.
“Many people in my district have really missed the bookmobile,” Monaco said. “The rural community will be grateful to have it back.”
Eric Johnson, principal and superintendent of Southside School, located in the south county, said students and families there would appreciate the bookmobile.
“There’s a certain part of our community that doesn’t get into town, so it’s a very good thing,” Johnson said. “(For Southside School), it’s just an opportunity to see more books.”
Although Conte said she’s not counting on the funds until the budget is passed, Monaco said the board is expected to move forward with an approval at its Aug. 28 meeting.
When that time comes, Conte said she will push forward in the next steps toward restarting bookmobile services.
“I’m very encouraged because we’ll soon be able to go to schools and the rural areas and take materials to the county,” Conte said. “This community has been very supportive of libraries and we’ll be able to have a vibrant library and services.”
