The bookmobile, above, is slated to arrive on St. John soon to reach residents unable to use the resources of Elaine I. Sprauve Library in Cruz Bay.
Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Alicia Barnes last week provided an update on the St. John Bookmobile, which is set to debut early this year.
“It has always been the intent of the department’s Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums to ensure that a bookmobile operated in St. John as one part of our commitment to exposure our children to the world of books and reading,” said Barnes. “There are some enhancements that must be completed on the bus and once done will allow us to introduce into the community.”
Currently located at the Department of Property and Procurement, the St. John Bookmobile, has been retrofitted with a handicapped lift in compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
The Bookmobile is a state-of-the-art mini-library that will traverse the island of St. John to encourage reading in neighborhoods and at community events.
The goal is for the bookmobile to make the offerings of the library more accessible to people who find it difficult or impossible to travel to the Elaine I. Sprauve Public Library in Cruz Bay.
The air-conditioned vehicle will contain more than 500 books of various genres and provide Internet accessible stations with two flat-screen monitors.
“Our roll-out dedication celebration is being planned for the long-awaited St. John Bookmobile and it will be one more vehicle that we are pushing and promoting to expose our children to books and ensure that library services are near to our seniors,” said Ingrid Bough, Territorial Director of Libraries, Archives and Museums.
The St. John Bookmobile will join its predecessors the St. Thomas and the St. Croix Bookmobiles, Bough added.
For more information about the St. John Bookmobile, contact Ingrid Bough, Territorial Director of Libraries, Archives and Museums at 773-5715 or visit the Virgin Islands Public Libraries website at www.virginislandspubliclibraries.org.
