After more than 30 years, Phoenix is bringing back its community bookmobile.
It’s like a tour bus for books. Phoenix Public Library’s bookmobile will show up at community, city and neighborhoods, especially areas that don’t have good access to a library. When it’s not traveling around the city, it will be parked at Burton Barr Central Library.
In 2022, the City Council approved spending up to $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy the vehicle. Annual operating costs were estimated at $494,000.
The 38-foot long vehicle is covered with colorful books and has a 20-foot retractable awning to provide shade and shelter for outdoor activities. The library says it will carry about 2,500 items for check out from a diverse range of authors, genres and age levels. The bookmobile will also have culture passes for checkout, which provides free admission for two people at participating arts and cultural institutions.
City Librarian Rita Hamilton said, “A mobile library will go a long way in extending our resources and services to even more Phoenix residents.”
The bookmobile should hit the road in early February. Its schedule will be at phoenixpubliclibrary.org.
Public ribbon cutting and open house
What: Debut of Phoenix Public Library’s Bookmobile
When: Friday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m. – noon
Where: Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004, east parking lot adjacent to Margaret T. Hance Park.
Phoenix Public Library will unveil its Bookmobile to the public with an official ribbon cutting and Bookmobile “open house.”
