New Fun Bus delivers reading, listening and viewing materials to community centers across Geauga County
Geauga County – July 7, 2016 – Geauga County Public Library is pleased to introduce its newest member of the Outreach fleet, the GCPL Fun Bus. This 30-foot vehicle holds approximately 3,500 materials and makes up to 25 stops per week.
The new Bookmobile made its debut at the Chesterland Fourth of July Parade, and started visiting community centers the next day. This vehicle goes to places including the YMCA, Chagrin Falls Park, Pleasant Hill, Notre Dame, Metzenbaum, WomenSafe, the Ravenwood homes, daycares, preschools, and many others.
Mobile Services now operates two full-size Bookmobiles, one Lobby Stop vehicle and one car to visit homebound patrons, effectively serving about 3,500 people every month. Prior to the new Bookmobile, the library was not able to regularly schedule stops at places where patrons had expressed a need.
The Amish comprise a robust segment of Outreach patrons, but they are only one piece of the customer base, checking out about 225,000 materials each year, or 75 percent of total Bookmobile circulation. The Bookmobile makes 125 stops each month, with 66 at rural Amish locations. In recent years, it’s been nearly impossible for Mobile Services to keep up with demand to serve other locations as well.
“The new Bookmobile is a great addition that ensures we can continue providing an excellent level of service to all citizens,” says GCPL Director Ed Worso, “not just those who are able to get to our buildings. We pay attention when citizens share their interest in how we can accommodate their needs. The Fun Bus allows thousands more people to use their library.”
The existing Bookmobile will remain on the road, and will continue to primarily serve the Amish population. The new Bookmobile is targeting many non-Amish stops. However, both vehicles are available to bring materials to people who need them.
Leah Schmidt, Head of Mobile Services, was instrumental in overseeing this project that took ten months to plan and eight months to build. Schmidt and her team custom designed the bus to appeal to the audience that it will mainly serve. “We’re excited to help more people use their library,” Schmidt says. “Our patrons constantly express their gratitude that we come to them. That’s our job. We provide materials and service to all regardless of their ability to get to us.”
Andrea Gutka, Executive Director of WomenSafe agrees. The families at her facility appreciate the safe, welcoming interaction with library staff as well as access to books, movies, music and games. “You provide a tremendous gift to us,” Gutka notes.
About the Geauga County Public Library
The Geauga County Public Library includes four full-service community libraries in Bainbridge, Chardon, Chesterland (Geauga West) and Middlefield; two library stations housed in schools in Newbury and Thompson; two Bookmobiles that serve farms and community centers; a Lobby Stop vehicle; a car for homebound patrons; and one administrative center where technical services, computer services, facilities and administrative functions reside. GCPL has more than 500,000 books and e-books. The collection also contains more than 100,000 audio / video items and 400 research databases available through its website. GCPL is a member of the SearchOhio / OhioLINK consortium, giving patrons access to more than 66 million items. Learn more about the Geauga County Public Library at the GCPL website, GeaugaLibrary.net.
Caption: GCPL’s new Bookmobile, the Fun Bus, began visiting community centersthroughout Geauga County in early July.
