The Mendocino County Bookmobile

How the bookmobile works The bookmobile tours many small towns on a weekly basis in Mendocino County that do not have libraries. There are approximately 5,000 books on the bookmobile The books are rotated off of the bookmobile via McNaughtons There is a policy not to keep any books or other materials that are over five years old onboard Only people with bookmobile library cards can use the circulating collection. No fines are charged to bookmobile patrons

The bookmobile staff Judith: was originally a children’s librarian in Colorado until she moved to California Bruce: the bookmobile driver. Judith

The California Conservation Camps The Parlin Fork and Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camps are located in Mendocino County and function under the direction of the California Department of Corrections in partnership with the California Department of Forestry. These two camps have a maximum population of 220 inmates, who are minimum custody offenders with an average placement stay of one to two years.

Inmates at the Conservation Camps The inmates at the Conservation Camps are low-risk and so have more privileges than inmates at other more traditional prisons. These inmates primarily are trained to fight forest fires. However when not fighting fires, the crews work eight hour days doing community service projects under the supervision of the CDF or may work within the camps. Some of the inmates helped refurbish the library were Terra works.

Conservation Camp Bookmobile Connection: Practicalities The Mendocino County Bookmobile has been serving the inmates for 20 Years. The Bookmobile comes to the conservation camps every two weeks The inmates come on the bookmobile six at a time and most check out the maximum amount of materials. Their library cards are kept on the bus. They are not charged fines They cannot use Interlibrary Loan since they are temporary patrons, but are regular patrons in all other ways

Conservation Camp Bookmobile Connection: the inmates The inmates greatly appreciate the bookmobile They check out the broadest range of books of any of the bookmobile patrons-they have a heavier focus on the occult, legal, financial and vocational materials than other patrons. There are usually at least four groups of six inmates that need more time. If an inmate gets in trouble and his library privileges are taken away, they are taken away for the whole camp.

Leading problems of the Bookmobile Funding is a major problem with the bookmobile as with most libraries. Inclimate weather also poses a problem since the bookmobile covers a wide area of the state. Judith and Bruce have to work together five days a week in very tight quarters. If you have a problem with your co-worker, this could be a nightmare.

Leading problems of the Bookmobile There is limited space on the bookmobile, only 5,000 volumes will fit, so patrons may not find the titles they are looking for. It only comes every two weeks, so if people have finished with their reading materials or need to do research, they have to wait until the bookmobile comes again. Interior of the Bookmobile