Mt. Sterling Library is ‘goin’ mobile’

“I can pull up by the curb, I can make it on the road,

goin’ mobile,

I can stop in any street, invite in people that we meet,

goin’ mobile…”

— The Who

By Dean Shipley

Staff Writer

The bookmobile ordered by Mt. Sterling Public Library through Farber Specialty Vehicles will resemble this one. It is scheduled to be delivered in June 2013.

The Mt. Sterling Library’s going mobile. It was awarded a grant for $112,485 by the board of the state library of Ohio to purchase and equip a mobile unit, which will serve the needs of its 248 square miles. Because the library is tied to the school district, its mission is to serve the entire district. It encompasses the southern half of the county.

“I am thrilled,” said Rebecca Rector, spokeswoman for the library. “I’m excited to take outreach to the people.”

The thrill comes from the fulfillment of a vision which was seen by former library director Heidi Fletcher, now librarian at Madison-Plains schools. The grant process began in January. The library received word in October the funds had been granted.

The coach itself, a 25-foot super duty, on a Ford chassis with 17-foot body is being built by Farber Specialty vehicles, in Reynoldsburg, east of Columbus. It builds a variety of vehicles for custom applications and has experience in building bookmobiles. Rector said the library board sought to keep the work as local as possible.

Martin Marek, Farber spokesperson said the gasoline-powered “super-duty” Ford chassis will be equipped with a wheelchair lift, a generator (for self sufficiency to run heater, air conditioner, lighting, etc.), Wi-Fi capable.

For safety it will have a rear-view back-up camera with driver’s monitor.

“They have a right to be excited,” Marek said.

The mobile library will offer books, audio books, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, and two computers with Internet use. Patrons can browse the card catalogue and request items not on the book mobile to be brought to them. It will be outfitted for Wi-Fi. This will allow E-Readers to come use the Internet and download materials. New library cards will be issued on site and will be free.

This mobile library will enable outreach within the 248 square miles of the Madison-Plains Local School District service area. This area includes the seven rural townships of Fairfield, Oak Run, Paint, Pleasant, Range, Stokes and Union.

Rector said delivery of the vehicle will be in June 2013.

In the meantime, the library seeks suggestions to name the vehicle.

Please submit your suggestions for naming the mobile library to the Mt. Sterling Public Library Facebook page or directly to the library at 60 W. Columbus St., Mt. Sterling, OH 43143.