The Burlington Public Library will soon have a new way to share its services throughout the county.
The city council has approved the purchase of a vehicle to serve as the library’s bookmobile.
“I feel this is an important achievement,” said Mayor Jon Billups.
The purchase price is $57,146.
The Burlington Public Library Foundation raised $150,000 in private funding to pay for buying and retrofitting a vehicle.
Library Director Brittany Jacobs told the city council that a colorful wrap was designed for the bookmobile.
“So it will be an eye-catching van out on the road and do a little bit of library marketing for us in Des Moines County,” she said.
The project has been three years in the making.
Jacobs hopes to roll out the bookmobile this summer.
She said it will provide outreach and other services to senior centers, daycare facilities, and more.
It could also offer unique mobile services such as printing and internet access.
“Meeting folks where they’re at is an important library function in the 21st Century,” she said.
Jacobs said the library serves all of Des Moines County and had 117,000 visitors during the last fiscal year.
The vehicle is a Ford Transit 350 EL, which Jacobs said matches the fleet of the city’s property maintenance department and won’t require any specialty parts.
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