This day is designated by the American Library Association as a day to celebrate the wonderful service bookmobiles provide communities throughout the nation. In addition, it’s a great day for bookmobile fans to show their support and appreciation for these mobile neighborhood libraries.

Bookmobile service in the Topeka area began back in 1943, during the height of World War II and civilian fuel rationing. Over the years the size and colors of bookmobiles have changed, but their commitment to bringing the library to your school, work or neighborhood has remained the same.

Even today bookmobiles are convenient option for those seeking library services without the hassle (and fuel expense) of driving downtown. With 18 stops in Shawnee County it’s no surprise that our bookmobiles keep busy travelling roughly 275 miles each week – for a total of over 13,500 miles a year!  That’s enough miles to drive from Topeka to New Zealand and back (although we don’t recommend you try)!

Over 100,000 people visit the bookmobiles every year, and many of them designate their favorite bookmobile stop as the pick-up location for their reserves. In fact, each week bookmobiles deliver about 1,000 reserves to library patrons. It’s a great way to get your favorite items delivered locally at no cost to you!

So if you don’t already bookmobile, now is a great chance to start.  Stop by our locations on National Bookmobile Day and let the friendly staff show you all the wonderful things that can be done with Shawnee County’s own libraries on wheels.

In mid-December the Board of Trustees of the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library gave the go-ahead for the library to purchase two new bookmobiles to replace those currently owned and operated by the library.

The current bookmobiles are part of the library’s outreach services, serving patrons at 18 separate locations throughout the county. After nearly 20 years of braving the elements (and Topeka’s streets), the current bookmobiles are reaching the end of their usefulness. With rising maintenance costs and hard-to-find replacement parts it only made sense that the library look towards the future and plan for replacements.

The new bookmobiles will be largely be paid for by private funding; The Library Foundation is currently working on a funding strategy.

Over the next few months the library will send vehicle specifications out to bid. Staff is carefully selecting criteria which will make the future bookmobiles not just more attractive and reliable, but user-friendly from both patron and staff perspectives. From the time an order is placed it can take nearly a year for the vehicle to be built and delivered. As such, the goal is to purchase and have street-ready one bookmobile in early 2014 and another in early 2015.

We’ll do our best to keep bookmobile fans updated on the process via blog posts like this one.  In the meantime, you can read about the eclectic life of bookmobiles in various communities around the world.

If you’re like most library patrons, the next few months probably include some sort of out-of-town travel for the holidays. Eggnog and family and colorful lights are swell, but what if that requested item you’ve been waiting weeks for becomes available while you’re gone?

Don’t fret! There is an option available to prevent this potential scenario: you can suspend a reservation request during the time you are out of town or otherwise unable to pick up items. Suspending a reservation keeps your place in line for the hold when your request is reactivated. This option is only available for item requests that haven’t yet been fulfilled.

To suspend a reservation request go to the Requests page of your online account and click on the box associated with the hold(s) you would like to suspend. Once you have selected the items, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the “Suspend/Reactivate Selected” button. A new page will load confirming the suspension and requesting a reactivation date. Enter your reactivation date into the field and click on “Submit.”

If you do not have access to your online account you can call the library and staff will place the suspension for you.

Keep in mind that Bookmobiles will not run from December 24 through January 2. During this time any holds tagged for Bookmobile services that become available will be located in the holds pick-up room at the main library. Once the Bookmobiles are back on schedule the holds will return to their regularly scheduled stops. Any Bookmobile holds that become available during the off week will still be held for two weeks worth of Bookmobile stops once service resumes.

But, let’s face it – there may be times when an item that you desire is not on the Bookmobile. In those instances, you can actually request to have the item sent to you at your particular Bookmobile stop!

How?

It’s easy! Just follow the steps required for placing an item on hold, and choose “Send it on a Bookmobile” for the delivery type. You can select your preferred Bookmobile stop from the drop-down menu and then confirm your reservation request.

You will be notified by email or telephone (depending on your account information) when the item is available for pick-up. We will hold the item at that Bookmobile stop for two weeks to allow you plenty of time to pick it up.

Please note that due to the large quantity of Bookmobile holds that we are limited to transporting only the holds on the Bookmobiles for the stops we are visiting that particular day (i.e. you can only pick up holds for the Wednesday Prince of Peace stop on Wednesdays – those holds will NOT be on the Bookmobiles on other days).

Questions?  Feel free to call us at 580-4400 or use the online chat feature on our website.

Come watch Star Wars at the library May 11

Join us in celebrating an out-of-this-world anniversary with a viewing of Star Wars on Friday, May 11 in Marvin Auditorium. Crafts and activities begin at 6:00pm, and the film starts at 6:30pm.

May 2012 marks the 35^th anniversary of the release of the original Star Wars movie (now more formally known as Episode IV:  A New Hope). When it was first released in 1977 the public had no idea they were witnessing the birth of a universe that would dramatically influence pop culture for the next 30 years.

With its subsequent sequels (and prequels), books, and other merchandising, Star Wars (and storyline mogul George Lucas) forever altered the public’s appetite for science-fiction.

Nowadays, Star Wars is a part of everyday life. Jedi masters, stormtroopers and philosophical quotes about The Force pop up in all kinds of social situations. To paraphrase Carl Sagan: we are made of Star Wars stuff.

I mean – who doesn’t remember their first lightsaber? Whether it was a modified cardboard tube or store-purchased model, kids (and kids-at-heart) have been waving lightsabers, joining the Rebel Alliance and yelling “Punch it, Chewy!” for over three decades.

Now’s your chance to live your dream; come and make a mini-Death Star or Admiral Ackbar puppet before the show. Have a favorite Star Wars character? Come to the movie in costume and participate in the group photo. As always, Wookies are welcome!

Everyone knows the basic facts of the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage: the iceberg, the sinking, and the considerable loss of life due to insufficient numbers of lifeboats. But there is so much more to learn about the famed ocean liner, her crew and passengers, and the events of that fateful night.

On April 13 and 14 the library will be hosting several events focused on Titanic – join us for one event or for all!

Friday, April 13^th  6:30 – 9:00pm (Marvin Auditorium 101BC)
Oh Ship!  Titanic Like You’ve NEVER Seen It
Everyone knows about Jack and Rose and what happened on that fateful night…but for our riffers, James Cameron’s film becomes prime fodder for jokes and mischievousness. Think Mystery Science Theater 3000 meets the History Channel. Bring your evil moustaches and silly hats and join the fun. Film is rated PG-13.

Saturday, April 14^th 9:00am – 4:00pm (Marvin Auditorium 101B)
Titanic:  A Day to Remember
Revisit the famed ocean liner with a day of Titanic-themed crafts and displays. This entertaining and educational event features activities for all ages.

Saturday, April 14^th 3:00 – 5:00pm (Marvin Auditorium 101C)
Titanic (1953)
Set sail on Titanic’s doomed voyage with an all-star cast. Clifton Webb and Barbara Stanwyck star as a wealthy couple in a collapsing marriage, while dashing Robert Wagner romances a lovely Audrey Dalton.  Join us in watching this version of the legendary story in Old Hollywood style. Film is not rated.