Bookmobile Service Will End in June, 2009
Letter from Director to Bookmobile Users
 

 

MURRAY L. BOB: 1930 - 2003
Murray L. Bob, Director of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library system from 1963 to April 2003, introduced bookmobile service to this area in 1965 and supported it fervently for 38 years.  With his enthusiasm for high public library standards and substantiating facts and figures, Mr. Bob successfully inspired funding for continuous service - and four bookmobiles.  Under his supervision and guidance, more than 3,000,000 items have circulated to library users who would otherwise not have had convenient access to public library service. 

THE FUNDING:
Bookmobile operation costs are supported by federal, state and two county funds.  This "Bobmobile" and its automated circulation system were paid for by generous grants from: 

• Ralph G. Sheldon Foundation,Inc.
• Hultquist Foundation
• Gebbie Foundation
• Jessie Smith Darrah Fund

THE SERVICE:
An outreach program of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, the Bookmobile provides public library materials and services to area residents who would otherwise have limited access to these valuable community resources.  Designed to meet the needs of all age groups and interests, this "traveling library" carries a wide variety of popular fiction and nonfiction books in hardcover, paperback and large print formats, videos, DVDS, CDS, audio-cassettes and magazines. Our current schedule includes rural communities without libraries, schools with limited libraries and/or limited access to public libraries, housing complexes, a residential center for youth and several Resource Center sites.

ONLINE CIRCULATION:
Using Gateway laptop computers, Sirsi software and phone card connections, this bookmobile is equipped for "live" interaction with James Prendergast Library's Sirsi circulation system. While the hilly terrain of our two-county service area currently prevents us from making successful connections at all our stops, we are able to input daily transactions with Sirsi's Standalone option.  

BORROWING PROCEDURES:

• Register for your Bookmobile card on the Bookmobile and bring this card when borrowing.
  
• Let us know if you lose your card. A $.50 fee is charged for a replacement.
  
• Materials will be checked out for a two week loan period until 12/23/08. However, as Bookmobile stops will be scheduled on a once-a-month basis from 1/6/2009 to 6/20/2009, loan dates will be extended to four weeks throughout this time. Date slips should be kept in the book pocket.
  
• Overdue notices are sent for late material. Let us know immediately if there is a problem.
  
• No late fines are charged. However, please remember that other patrons may be waiting to borrow items you have out and return them to the Bookmobile as soon as possible.
  
• Materials borrowed from the Bookmobile may be brought to any member library in the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System and returned to the Bookmobile. office via our System Delivery.  See library listings:
  
• Items not returned after an overdue notice is sent will be billed to you and your bookmobile privileges will be blocked until the materials are either returned or the Bookmobile is reimbursed for the loss. If an item that has been paid for is returned in good condition within six months of the date of payment, a refund will be made.