By KELLEY MOHRStaff WriterMILLERSBURG -- With branch closures affecting many Holmes County residents' access to library facilities, the bookmobile has taken on an important role as a symbol of the Holmes County District Public Library's continued commitment to serving the community in 2011."It's like our mobile branch, it's a very visible presence," said Director Bill Martino. "I have people come up to me and tell me how neat it is to see the bookmobile parked somewhere and see the kids walking up with their wagons and backpacks full of books."In the past year, bookmobile circulation has continued to rise each month and "obviously with the branches closing, more and more people are using the bookmobile," said Martino.In 2010, branch locations at Killbuck, Walnut Creek, Berlin and Winesburg were closed because of a failed local operating levy and continuing budget cuts from the state, which supplies nearly all the district's funding. The library opted to establish an east branch in the Walnut Creek Community Center and continue using the Millersburg location as the central branch.To make up for the services lost with the branch closings, the bookmobile program was evaluated to best serve the needs of the county."It was a hard adjustment for several of the communities where the branches were closed. We are trying to reach out to those folks and trying to do as much as we can now with the bookmobile increases," Martino said.The library's bookmobiles travel all over the county, east, west, north and south, on a rotating basis, said Martino. They make stops at a variety of communities and at parochial Amish schools, with extended stops once a week in Winesburg and Killbuck."There are a lot of stops in a month, over 70," he said. "We try to cycle back every four to six weeks."The bookmobiles are essentially traveling mini-libraries. Stocked with books, DVDs, CDs and laptops, they give patrons access to materials, the Internet, printers and a copying machine. Patrons can place holds from the bookmobile and use it as a wireless hub."We are trying to mirror the other services we have around the county, and if possible, to have it all on the bookmobile," said Martino. "However, (bookmobiles) take money to continue to operate as well, which is why we're trying to get the Bookmobile Support Fund rolling."The Holmes County Bookmobile Support Fund campaign began in the fall and has grown since. In December, the fund received nearly $35,000 in donations to pay for the costs of maintenance, fuel and materials for the bookmobile."It's basically an attempt, since the levies have not passed, to reach out to some of the people who do use the bookmobile and who feel it's important enough to make a donation to the fund. It could be small, it could be large. Our goal is about $100,000 and that would allow the bookmobile to operate at its current level," said Martino.Martino plans to continue to solicit donations by sending out letters to business owners throughout the area who might feel led to help ensure that Holmes County citizens still receive access to the services the library offers to those who can't make frequent trips to the main locations."It's the biggest symbol of the library in Holmes County because it's so visible and it helps in this rural community in the important role that it plays," said Martino. "Ideally, it'd be great to open the branches again but with the financial climate as it is we certainly aren't in a position to do so at this time."For now, the library will continue to offer bookmobile services around the county and recently implemented Saturday hours at the east branch. Martino is also attempting to secure grant funding to place library drop boxes throughout the county."Going into my second year as a member of the staff and the community, I want to try to become much more active in the community to let people realize that we're trying to get back out there again and do as much as we can for the people of Holmes County," said Martino.Reporter Kelley Mohr can be reached at 330-674-5676 or kmohr@the-daily-record.com.
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