ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHILDREN’S AUTHOR ASHLEY WOLFF DECORATE THE RICHMOND (CA) PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE

The new vinyl bus-wrap features illustrations donated by children’s book author and illustrator Ashley Wolff, a former Richmond resident. Odette Batis, the bookmobile librarian and 2009 recipient of the Public Library Association’s DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant, commented that “Ashley donated the images because we visit children who need access to books. They need to be interested visually to want to read, and she wanted to support that idea.” The bookmobile is attracting more attention with the exciting new design, as Batis continues, “At one stop, where there are normally 25 children in line waiting for us, a day or two after we went out with the new wrap, there were close to 125 waiting. We can’t keep Ashley’s books on the shelves, either, as the children recognize the illustrations from the ‘new truck,’ as they call it.”

The Richmond Public Library Bookmobile makes 20 stops per week, mostly at public schools, although it also visits the Boys & Girls Club, preschools, and private schools. This schedule rotates three times per year, to accommodate other stop requests and to visit summer schools and summer recreation programs.

 In October, 2009, the bookmobile had 6,997 visitors on board, the busiest month since they started counting in 2008. Library Director Monique le Conge noted, “The bookmobile actually has higher attendance and circulation than our two smaller branches combined. It meets an important need: supporting education. By visiting the schools and children in areas that don’t have ready access to the public library, the bookmobile introduces them to reading beyond the classroom, teaches them how to care for library materials, and makes sure that they participate in the summer reading game and other library events. I believe that it is a valuable service, and Ashley Wolff’s contribution to our exterior renovation is just what we need to attract renewed attention. We are eager to see how the new look improves use and interest.” For more information about the bookmobile, its schedule, or its renovation, please visit www.richmondlibrary.org, or contact the Richmond Public Library, (510) 620-6555.