The Humboldt County Bookmobile has been traveling the rural roads of northern Nevada since the 60s and bookmobile coordinator Ginny Dufurrena has been driving the bus for 14 years this month.
Dufurrena travels across 10,000 square miles of the high desert to bring the written word to children and adults alike who might not otherwise get that exposure.
"There's nothing like picking up a real book," Dufurrena said. "It is important to keep the written word alive."
Some of Dufurrena's patrons are retired adults who don't have the time to get town, some are young students and others are truck drivers who visit the bookmobile to stock up on books on tape. For all her patrons, Dufurrena said the bookmobile is an opportunity to broaden horizons and expose readers to book they may not otherwise be interested in.
"It gives people the opportunity to try different genres," she said. "I've really seen a lot of that; I've really seen them grow in that aspect."
Dufurrena and her bookmobile see about 300 people a week. She said sometimes her adult patrons are just looking for the social interaction that she and her bookmobile provide.
Dufurrena keeps the bookmobile stocked with not only books, but also coffee and dog treats so she has something for any person or canine who might happen upon the bus.
In addition to coffee, dog treats and books, Dufurrena also provides many of her younger patrons with fun activities to participate in, especially those students at the smaller rural schools. She organizes activities like gift-making during the holiday season and other crafts throughout the year.
During the summer, Dufurrena and the bookmobile bring the library's summer reading program to rural students, which gives each child an opportunity to participate in fun activities and keep reading throughout the summer months.
"It keeps kids in the rurals reading and it keeps them involved," she said. "They are all just a wonderful group of kids."
Dufurrena's job brings a great service to the rural areas of Humboldt County, but it isn't without hours of hard work. Her daily job consists of driving the bus, stocking it, checking books in and out, filling requests, telling stories, facilitating crafts, sponsoring reading programs, and the list goes on.
Dufurrena takes pride in her job because she said there is a need for those books.
"This area is craving for literacy," she said.
Everyday, not just on National Bookbmobile Day, fans, patrons and supporters of the Humboldt County Bookmobile have the chance to express their appreciation and gratitude for the service that Dufurrena and the bookmobile provide.
According to the American Library Association, National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday, April 16, 2014) celebrates our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated library professionals who provide this valuable and essential service to their communities every day.
National Bookmobile Day is an opportunity for bookmobiles fans to make their support known-through thanking bookmobile staff, writing a letter or email to their libraries, or voicing their support to community leaders.
National Bookmobile Day is coordinated by the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).
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