has kept small town libraries going, even if they are open for just a few hours a week.
It took nearly a quarter century for bookmobile service of any kind to restart in Vermont. For a time, Vermont was the only state in the country that did not have an active bookmobile. Federal support during the late 1990s helped kickstart a number of bookmobile programs across the state.
In the early 2000s, as many as ten bookmobiles ran regular local routes. Once federal support dried up, so did most of the neo-bookmobiles. Now, just a handful remain in operation.
“ We think of our bookmobile as an extension of our physical library and the collection here,” said Sarah Hibbeler, outreach librarian for the Dorothy Ailing Memorial Library, the public library for the town of Williston. She is the driver and librarian on“ Dottie,” the bookmobile operated by the Ailing Library.
“ Dottie” offers year-round bookmobile service and is supported as part of the town’ s library budget.
Hibbeler’ s regular route includes independent senior living communities in St. George and Williston as well as pre-schools and childcare centers in those communities.
“ We are so lucky in Williston that this town has supported bookmobile service in some form or another for 25 years. And the town continues to increase its commitment,” Hibbeler said. The bookmobile makes appearances at special events throughout the year, including“ Touch-a-Truck” and“ Trunk or Treat.”
“ We have prizes on board, and we really try to make it an exciting destination for them,” Hibbeler said of Dottie’ s appeal to children. Dottie’ s collection includes lots of picture books. as well as seasonal titles aimed at schoolchildren.
“ When we head to the childcare centers, we have a musical horn that
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