TODAY’S BOOKMOBILE — The Jefferson County Bookmobile first began its extensive library program in 1940. Since that time, the public service vehicle has undergone many changes. Eric Heaton, bookmobile driver, and Katie Herron, bookmobile assistant, visit various sites to deliver books to station stops throughout the area. This newer vehicle has many more amenities which allow library officials to better serve the residents of Jefferson County. — Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The bookmobile hit the road beginning in 1940, as the library system was extending its service countywide as a “county extension center” using a panel truck to deliver books to the newly-forming branch libraries and “station stops” around the county.

An actual bookmobile vehicle was purchased in 1948, allowing people to get onto the vehicle to select books.

Vehicles typically last a decade, and the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County has replaced bookmobiles every 10 years or so serving area residents with library service.

Many residents have recalled the bookmobile being “their first library experience,” whether it be at school stops or during a visit to an area village.

“I picked my first library book from the bookmobile,” was the comment of a man to the bookmobile staff recently.

BOOKMOBILE OF 1950 — The Jefferson County bookmobile toured the city during 1953, offering residents the opportunity to utilize it services. Here, the bookmobile sits parked in front of Carlton’s. — Contributed

The new 2023 bookmobile, manufactured by the Farber Co. in Columbus, is a vehicle with all kinds of new technology for the staff to utilize.

A hot spot connects the bookmobile to the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.

The online system now contains the collections of 100 library systems, 276 library locations and 8 million items all across Ohio.

Eight million items ranging from books to DVDs, along with information from various databases, are available to bookmobile users. This flexibility allows the bookmobile to make one-time visits and access your library card to checkout materials.

The new vehicle is ADA compliant with a lift, or staff will bring items directly to you.

Library Director Mike Gray stated, “We are looking at all possibilities with our new bookmobile, from new stops to providing books to area schools.”

Community stops range from Bergholz to Smithfield, Amsterdam to Richmond, and New Alexandria.

Library officials are looking for interest and potential at other locations, as well.

Library branches are located in Adena, Dilllonvale-Mount Pleasant, Tiltonsville, Brilliant, Toronto, Schiappa Branch and the Main Library downtown.

A major effort is underway to service and deliver to senior, assisted-living housing sites around the county, including Rivers Landing, Heritage Village, Michael Myers, Magnolia Manor, Kennedy Apartments, Jefferson Place, Meridian Green, Ridgewood Apartments and Prime Time/Four Seasons.

Materials are delivered based on the need of the individual — from large print books to books on CD, to whatever the individual desires from the library.

Staff also makes homebound deliveries to those with health issues and can obtain and select items from the library system’s access points across Ohio.

The rumor that people do not use libraries today has been discounted when you realize that the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County checked out 700,000 traditional items in 2022, not to mention the access points to a million items on free databases provided on the library website at steubenvillelibrary.org — which is the library system’s additional branch library.

The library system is active on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, not to mention by the traditional phone and the new library app.

“You can get to the library, or let the library get to you,” is the motto expressed by the bookmobile staff.

To contact the bookmobile, call the Main Library at (740) 282-9782

You can also email the bookmobile staff at Eric Heaton, bookmobile driver, eheaton@seolibraries.org; or Katie Herron, bookmobile assistant, kherron@seolibraries.org.