Kizzi’ s Novel Nook puts a fresh spin on the traditional bookmobile
STORY BY Terri White
Photo by Terri White Kizzi Rowland with her 7-foot-by-12-foot trailer book store.
In the 1850s, England established the first mobile libraries using horse-drawn carriages. Then, by 1905, Mary Limist Titcomb, aiming to expand community access to literature, built the first bookmobile in the U. S.
The Works Progress Administration, during the Great Depression, supported bookmobile programs, especially in rural areas, and many of those communities continued the programs long after the Depression.
I have fond memories of the bookmobile that visited our elementary school in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In the 1950s, our school’ s tiny library was a nook at the end of a hallway, so the bookmobile augmented our meager collection.
Today, about 900 bookmobiles operate across the U. S., serving various demographics: schools, retirement homes and rural communities. They have even evolved to include modern technology such as Internet access, e-readers and multimedia resources. Thus, bookmobiles provide tailored resources and materials to diverse populations with limited access to traditional libraries.
Enter Kizzi’ s Novel Nook, a new wave in bookmobiles. Much like the food truck popularity, Kizzi’ s Novel Nook travels to local weekend venues. You will find her friendly trailer parked at festivals, wineries, breweries, farmer’ s markets, and book fairs. Hosting a party for your book lovers? Kizzi’ s your girl.
Unlike a bookmobile that loans books to patrons, Kizzi stocks popular new books of various genres for purchase. Romance? Fantasy? Action? Thriller? Mystery? Poetry? Short stories? All stocked in the Nook for adults, teens, tweens and younger children. You will even find my books—“ Back Porch Musings” and“ Teeny-Tiny Tina and the Titmouse”— there.
But what prompted a 30-yearold mom to launch this business? Kizzi Rowland grew up in Missouri near her grandma. Because of her severe dyslexia, Grandma never learned to read. Because of this handicap, her grandma stressed the importance of reading to Kizzi, who became a voracious reader. Kizzi regularly read to her grandma, enriching both of their lives. and no surprise that Kizzi dreamed of owning a bookstore.
Later, Kizzi moved to Texas and eventually settled in Cleburne with her husband and four children. Over the years, her dream of a bookstore simmered on the back burner. Realizing that a brickand-mortar store was not financially feasible at this stage of her life, Kizzi determined to buy a trailer to establish her traveling bookmobile.
6 Community Life