Kids Say the Darndest Things
Hundreds of children have boarded MEL in the few months that he has been open for business. They all have one thing in common. They say the darndest things. Without trying, the kids that come on the bookmobile keep me laughing. They also keep my friends laughing when I repeat their classic lines. For example: Ms. Kathy asked a group of kids from the Boys and Girls Club if they have ever dreamed that they could fly. One child replied, “No, I dream of chicken. I love chicken.”
One 6 year old that boarded the bookmobile asked me if I was a kid or a lady. I told her that I was a lady. She said, “Well then where are your husband and kids?” I told her that I wasn’t married and didn’t have any children. She then informed me that I must be a kid then because the only way that I could be a lady is if I were married with children.
Here are a few more frequently asked questions:
“Where did you guys put all of the furniture?”
“Where is your bed?”
“Are we going to go for a ride?”
“Where is the drinking fountain?”
“Do you have anything to drink? Can have some of your water?”
We had a guest--with a present!
Today, Ms. Sara, Ms. Kathy and I went to the Boys and Girls Club on Drake Street. We had a guest rider--Mr. Orin from the Information Technology department. I don't think I've ever taken three people for a ride before! I tried not to jostle him around too much. He said that he really liked watching my rear view camera screen, and I think he liked my Magic Steps, too. Mr. Orin was there to help the Outreach Team move into a new era--an era where they won't have to write all of the barcodes down and type them all in after they get back to the library. Anyway, he's testing out a new laptop computer for them to use--cool! Personally, I think he's going to spoil them!
Magic Steps
MEL has many interesting things to offer. Not only does he have a suave personality but he even has magic steps! That's right, magic steps. They are a big hit with our younger visitors as well as my own personal favorite part of being on the bookmobile team. You see, when you open the door, a set of steps miraculously comes out of who-knows-where. And as if that weren't enough, when you close the door the steps disappear! I don't know how it works but I'm here to tell you that it does and it is amazing. What can I say? MEL has it all.
It's getting a bit warm out here, but I've heard talk that help is on the way! You see, the truck that was in my way the other day actually belonged to an electrician. The electrician is installing an outlet so that the outreach team can plug me in when I'm not on the road. That way, I can literally keep being as cool as I know I already am!
Interesting Bookmobile Facts
The first Bookmobile in the United States was developed by Mary Lemist Titcomb (1857-1932). While employed at the Washington County, Maryland Free Library, Titcomb was concerned that the library was not reaching all of the people it could. So, she worked on a plan for a book wagon. In 1905 the Washington County Free Library provided the first book wagon in the nation to residents by taking the books directly to their homes in remote parts of the county. (Maryland State Archives, Maryland Women's Hall of Fame)(Washington County Free Library)
The Gerstenslager company specialized in building mobile libraries and similar vehicles in the 1950s.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmobile"
Blocked In!
Yesterday, we stopped at the Black Mountain Rec. Center. When we arrived, there was hardly anyone there yet. We found a nice place to set up and waited for the people. It was a slow start for us because the families were all listening to a storyteller inside the building. After his program, we had some nice visitors come in to see what we're all about. Mr. Scott and Ms. Kathy issued new library cards and checked out books and DVDs. Everything seemed fine until--dunt dunt dunnn--I found myself blocked in! I heard Ms. Kathy say that she didn't want to try to shimmy out by going backwards and forwards 18 times. I saw that Mr. Scott looked a little worried, too. But, you know what? I showed them! All I needed was for them to have a little faith in me. I simply backed up a few short feet, steered to the right, then went forward and BINGO--we were out and on our way back to my cozy resting spot at the Paseo Verde Library. Of course, when we got back to my reserved spot, there was a truck--right there in the middle of it! I eventually made it home. I guess it was just one of those days...
Hi, my name is MEL
—that’s short for Mobile Extension Library. I’m proud to be the new Henderson District Public Libraries Bookmobile! You may have already seen me out and about town. I love meeting new people and having them climb aboard to see what new things the Outreach Team and I have brought for them. Our patrons are often surprised at the variety of things we have to offer, such as new books, DVDs, books on CD, and even Playaways.
This summer, we’ve been going to all kinds of cool places like parks, recreation centers, and schools. We also drop by apartment complexes where senior citizens live--they seem to enjoy browsing my bestsellers, and I’ve heard them say that they’re glad they don’t have to go far to borrow things from the library.
The Team and I will be posting our comings and goings right here, so please feel free to blog along with the Outreach Team and me--we’d love to hear from you!
