bookmobile

When I was traveling around Northern California on the Internet Archive bookmobile, I had the opportunity to sit down with Eric Brooks, the lone technical support person at the Placer County Library. One of the many conversations we shared was around how he felt technical support personnel should either be mandated to work at a computer lab while in school, or they should pick up hours working a customer service job, like retail.

I've been thinking a lot about time. And when I think about time, I hear Mick Jagger singing in my head, "tiiiiiime is on our side..."
But how does Mick's promise work in libraries? Finding time to complete daily tasks, help patrons, react to the myriad of unscheduled issues tossed your way, and then, keep up with technology? Really? Are you sure time is on your side?
Lately, a few people have shared their views on this topic, and all are connected by their desire to learn, and their creative solutions. Read on...

Whether formal or informal, planned or unplanned, most libraries offer some variety of patron training. Call it what you may, when a librarian bends over a public computer and offers help to a puzzled patron, that’s training, too.

Early in our trip, I was amazed by the technology the three of us brought on the road. We were a veritable computer and video production lab on wheels. I even took a photo to prove it.

She peered over at me, eyebrow raised, and asked, "how old are you?"

Unprepared to answer such a personal question, I stumbled and paused, mouth opened.

Yesterday we visited two libraries in two sweet towns and topped it off with the fundraiser for the Humboldt County Library. Today is much the same--we're traveling to Mendocino county to visit two libraries, and then we head back to San Francisco. The phone just woke us all up before our alarm, and I tumbled around, trying to find a way to make it stop. It was the front desk at our hotel, telling us the bookmobile was about to be towed, due to the farmer's market setting up in the square. What a rude awakening, and what kind of person would tow a bookmobile???

As Brewster Kahle cautioned, practice, practice, and more practice is required to perfect the setup, the bookmaking, and the break down of the bookmobile. He spoke the truth, and as we embark upon our last days of the tour, I thought I'd list some of the hard lessons of the road. :)

We spent a lovely day at the Orland Free Library, and we're lucky ShinJoung caught it on film. After much editing and producing, ShinJoung's filmic masterpiece is now ready for the public!

WATCH the bookmobile crew on ShinJoung's blog.

As I mentioned earlier, we've established a ritual of visiting each library before showing up in the bookmobile. As a trio of librarians and library users, we like to check out public libraries whether we're on a bookmobile or on vacation.

So when we set up shop at the Humboldt County Library just a few minutes ago, we expected we'd maintain our incognito status. This time, we were wrong.

Friday night, the bookmobile will be making an appearance at the Oysters & Ale Fundraiser to benefit broadband services and free wi-fi at the Humboldt County Library. We're so excited!

We're honored to be a part of this event, and our spirits rose when we saw this banner as arrived in Arcata: