Bookmobile History

The Library Foundation created a partnership between the Foundation, City and the community
to purchase a bookmobile to expand the Library’s ability to promote early literacy and reach as
many local children as possible. The bookmobile
has resulted in expanded services to children of McMinnville and School District 40. It also helps the children's room, which has no more space for a growing collection in its current space at the library.

Dale Tomlinson, past president of the Foundation and the primary fundraiser for this project, received tremendous support from the community and presented a check for $55,000 to the Mayor and City Council.

Bookmobile services began March 6, 2002. The list of scheduled stops is on a regular 3-week rotation. The bookmobile is on the road 3 days a week, bringing the library to children in parks, daycare centers, pre-schools, private schools and Kids on the Block sites.

Staff realized that more children, those unable to get to the library or not enrolled in an established program, also need access to the bookmobile. The opportunity arose with the development of new parks in growing neighborhoods. In the Fall of 2005, a regular stop was added to Discovery Meadows Park. It proved to be so popular that we added a Thompson Park stop in 2006.   In the future, as more staff becomes available, the program will continue to grow.