Description: Three photographs show a bookmobile in Noble County, Ohio. Operated by the State Library of Ohio, the bookmobile visited rural parts of southeastern Ohio. The first photograph shows people waiting in line for the bookmobile, while the second photograph shows the interior of the library on wheels. A group of children are shown reading outside the bookmobile in the final photograph. The photographs measure 2.75" x 2.75" (6.99 x 6.99 cm). The State Library of Ohio was established in 1817 to provide services to legislators. The State Library began providing funding to establish libraries in rural areas of Ohio in the 1930s. By 1953, the library operated 53 bookmobiles in 37 counties. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3039_3655078_001
Subjects: Transportation; Literary Ohio; Bookmobiles; Libraries; Books
Places: Ava (Ohio); Noble County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "Library Truck in the county showing people gathered around truck. Cincinnati, Ohio." The Cincinnati Public Library “book wagon” was first begun in 1927 to provide service for county schools and eventually to “bookstops” around the county. It was a simply a one-ton truck with bookshelves covered by glass lift-up panels, on the outside. The Bookmobile Service grew steadily, especially through the 1930s and 1940s. By 1988, the Bookmobile was undercut; its need was slowly decreasing as new suburban branches opened and better transportation allowed people better mobility. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. It began in 1802 as a subscription library. The legal birthday of the Cincinnati Public Library is March 14, 1853 with the passing of the Ohio Common Schools Act, though it was of little importance at the time. In part, the act established funding from taxation for school libraries. In 1856, the library was called the “Common School and Family Library” and shared an office with the Office of Public Schools. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that the library would need more space and better access, so in 1857 a partnership was formed with the Ohio Mechanics Library to occupy the second floor of their building at Sixth and Vine. An official Public Library building was finally completed in 1874, having been designed by architect J.W. McLaughlin. The building was considered the "the most magnificent public library in the country." It was located at 629 Vine Street, on the west side, between 6th and 7th Streets, it is now referred to as "Old Main" Public Library. It was demolished in 1955 when the “New Main” building opened at 800 Vine Street. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F13_010_1
Subjects: Cincinnati. Public Library; Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Murdoch, James; McLaughlin, J. W.; Bookmobiles--United States
Places: Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "Interior view of Library Truck. Woman reading book, near Cincinnati, Ohio." This photograph shows a woman seated at a small table, inside a branch truck of the Cincinnati Public Library. The Cincinnati Public Library “book wagon” was first begun in 1927 to provide service for county schools and eventually to “bookstops” around the county. It was a simply a one-ton truck with bookshelves covered by glass lift-up panels, on the outside. The Bookmobile Service grew steadily, especially through the 1930s and 1940s. By 1988, the Bookmobile was undercut; its need was slowly decreasing as new suburban branches opened and better transportation allowed people better mobility. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. It began in 1802 as a subscription library. The legal birthday of the Cincinnati Public Library is March 14, 1853 with the passing of the Ohio Common Schools Act, though it was of little importance at the time. In part, the act established funding from taxation for school libraries. In 1856, the library was called the “Common School and Family Library” and shared an office with the Office of Public Schools. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that the library would need more space and better access, so in 1857 a partnership was formed with the Ohio Mechanics Library to occupy the second floor of their building at Sixth and Vine. An official Public Library building was finally completed in 1874, having been designed by architect J.W. McLaughlin. The building was considered the "the most magnificent public library in the country." It was located at 629 Vine Street, on the west side, between 6th and 7th Streets, it is now referred to as "Old Main" Public Library. It was demolished in 1955 when the “New Main” building opened at 800 Vine Street. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F13_013_1
Subjects: Cincinnati. Public Library; Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Murdoch, James; McLaughlin, J. W.; Bookmobiles--United States
Places: Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows three parked "book wagons" belonging to the Cincinnati Public Library, Cincinnati, Ohio, ca. 1935-1943. Text on the vehicles' rear and back panels reads: "Public Library of Cincinnati / County Service." The side panel also includes an image of the main library building. Becoming a countywide system in 1898, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County was a pioneer in the 20th century with its special services for the blind and for children, bookmobile services, and circulation of audiovisual materials. The library's "book wagon" service began in 1927 View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06193
Subjects: Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Libraries--Ohio--History; Cincinnati (Ohio); Bookmobiles
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "Three Public Library Truck parked. County Service, Cincinnati, Ohio." The Cincinnati Public Library “book wagon” was first begun in 1927 to provide service for county schools and eventually to “bookstops” around the county. It was a simply a one-ton truck with bookshelves covered by glass lift-up panels, on the outside. The Bookmobile Service grew steadily, especially through the 1930s and 1940s. By 1988, the Bookmobile was undercut; its need was slowly decreasing as new suburban branches opened and better transportation allowed people better mobility. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. It began in 1802 as a subscription library. The legal birthday of the Cincinnati Public Library is March 14, 1853 with the passing of the Ohio Common Schools Act, though it was of little importance at the time. In part, the act established funding from taxation for school libraries. In 1856, the library was called the “Common School and Family Library” and shared an office with the Office of Public Schools. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that the library would need more space and better access, so in 1857 a partnership was formed with the Ohio Mechanics Library to occupy the second floor of their building at Sixth and Vine. An official Public Library building was finally completed in 1874, having been designed by architect J.W. McLaughlin. The building was considered the "the most magnificent public library in the country." It was located at 629 Vine Street, on the west side, between 6th and 7th Streets, it is now referred to as "Old Main" Public Library. It was demolished in 1955 when the “New Main” building opened at 800 Vine Street. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F13_002_1
Subjects: Cincinnati. Public Library; Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Murdoch, James; McLaughlin, J. W.; Bookmobiles--United States
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "County service Library Truck with children selecting books, near Cincinnati, Ohio." The Cincinnati Public Library “book wagon” was first begun in 1927 to provide service for county schools and eventually to “bookstops” around the county. It was a simply a one-ton truck with bookshelves covered by glass lift-up panels, on the outside. The Bookmobile Service grew steadily, especially through the 1930s and 1940s. By 1988, the Bookmobile was undercut; its need was slowly decreasing as new suburban branches opened and better transportation allowed people better mobility. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. It began in 1802 as a subscription library. The legal birthday of the Cincinnati Public Library is March 14, 1853 with the passing of the Ohio Common Schools Act, though it was of little importance at the time. In part, the act established funding from taxation for school libraries. In 1856, the library was called the “Common School and Family Library” and shared an office with the Office of Public Schools. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that the library would need more space and better access, so in 1857 a partnership was formed with the Ohio Mechanics Library to occupy the second floor of their building at Sixth and Vine. An official Public Library building was finally completed in 1874, having been designed by architect J.W. McLaughlin. The building was considered the "the most magnificent public library in the country." It was located at 629 Vine Street, on the west side, between 6th and 7th Streets, it is now referred to as "Old Main" Public Library. It was demolished in 1955 when the “New Main” building opened at 800 Vine Street. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F13_007_1
Subjects: Cincinnati. Public Library; Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Murdoch, James; McLaughlin, J. W.; Bookmobiles--United States
Places: Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "County service Library Truck with children selecting books, near Cincinnati, Ohio." The Cincinnati Public Library “book wagon” was first begun in 1927 to provide service for county schools and eventually to “bookstops” around the county. It was a simply a one-ton truck with bookshelves covered by glass lift-up panels, on the outside. The Bookmobile Service grew steadily, especially through the 1930s and 1940s. By 1988, the Bookmobile was undercut; its need was slowly decreasing as new suburban branches opened and better transportation allowed people better mobility. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. It began in 1802 as a subscription library. The legal birthday of the Cincinnati Public Library is March 14, 1853 with the passing of the Ohio Common Schools Act, though it was of little importance at the time. In part, the act established funding from taxation for school libraries. In 1856, the library was called the “Common School and Family Library” and shared an office with the Office of Public Schools. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that the library would need more space and better access, so in 1857 a partnership was formed with the Ohio Mechanics Library to occupy the second floor of their building at Sixth and Vine. An official Public Library building was finally completed in 1874, having been designed by architect J.W. McLaughlin. The building was considered the "the most magnificent public library in the country." It was located at 629 Vine Street, on the west side, between 6th and 7th Streets, it is now referred to as "Old Main" Public Library. It was demolished in 1955 when the “New Main” building opened at 800 Vine Street. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is now one of the largest and busiest public libraries in the world and operates 41 branch locations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F13_009_1
Subjects: Cincinnati. Public Library; Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Murdoch, James; McLaughlin, J. W.; Bookmobiles--United States
Places: Hamilton County (Ohio)