Sims Library bookmobile has arrived

After months of waiting, the Nicholas P. Sims Library received its new bookmobile in late February.

Employees have already taken it out into the community for public stops at Waxahachie parks and visits to local organizations.

The bookmobile is run by a generator or could be plugged into a nearby outlet. It includes shelves for books, a wi-fi hotspot, mobile printing services and more. Patrons can place a hold on a book through the library’s online catalog, request to pick it up on the bookmobile and grab it at one of the public stops.

Community services librarian Jennifer Graf said they can also set up and make library cards on the bookmobile, noting that many Southwestern Assemblies of God University students have already used this feature.

Graf said they plan to take the bookmobile to SAGU every Tuesday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., to the Waxahachie Senior Center every other Wednesday morning, to Daymark Living every other Friday, and to make public stops every day, depending on the weather.

“We hope people will see it and come over to see what’s going on,” Graf said. “Then, we can promote more of our services and bring more awareness to the library.”

Most stops will include a story time, a craft or another form of programming, along with the opportunity to check out books, create a library card or print something out.

The bookmobile will also serve as a marketing tool while it’s on the road and help the library staff members reach more people in the city.

“There are so many people who have lived here for years and did not know we had a library,” Graf said. “This will help us reach people on the north end of town or those who can’t make it to the library.”

The Waxahachie City Council approved the purchase of the $200,000 bookmobile during its meeting Nov. 1, 2021. The vehicle was then purchased and converted into a bookmobile. It originally was supposed to arrive in November 2022, but it was delayed because of missing parts and finalizing the wrap design, Graf said.

They are still adding books to the bookmobile’s shelves, Graf said, and she hopes to have enough where the shelves are always full even when books are checked out. A portion of book donations made to the library will be added to the bookmobile’s collection, she said.

For more information, visit online at www.simslib.org, follow @SimsLibraryBookmobile on Facebook, or email Graf at j.graf@simslib.org.

Originally published March 9, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/news/local/sims-library-bookmobile-has-arrived/article_0f584350-bec0-11ed-a5ae-f341144f1002.html