The Pocket Bookmobile

This adorable bookmobile-shaped brochure from 1952 was to promote service for the library on wheels in the state of Maryland. According to Larry Nix at the Library History Buff Blog, the first traveling bookmobile service in the US actually began in Hagerstown, Maryland in 1905. It was a wagon pulled by 2 horses with enough space for 200 books on the outside and additional space for more books on the inside of the wagon. The driver of the wagon did double duty as the janitor of the library. 
      Prior to the bookmobile, there were traveling libraries with small rotating collections of books which were stationed for months on end at convenient locations such as a post office, store or someone's home. This allowed for library service to be extended to rural areas across the US in the late 19th century. 
      Bringing books to the people has a long legacy around the world, yet it's unfortunate the bookmobile barely coasted into the 21st century before it became roadkill. Call me a sentimental old bibliofool, but I miss having a traveling library on wheels. 
Hey Amazon! Give us an eReader shaped like a bookmobile why don't you?

The Little Toy Bookmobile

I have to admit, this charming toy bookmobile is way cuter than even the Penguin Bookmobile I posted below. All that it's missing is a license plate that reads ABC. This Children Books Service Car (Yes, children, don't spell like this at home!) was spotted on eBay back in 2008 by Benjamin Clark of the wonderful Exile Bibliophile. He claims this toy library on wheels eventually closed at $710 by the end of the auction. And worth every dime! It was made in Japan, probably for the American market, and the seller pegged it from the 1950s. The condition of the box and the bookmobile is incredible considering its' 60 plus years of age. They just don't make toys like this anymore, with such charm and character and peculiarity. The little girl on the side of the truck looks absolutely terrified of the two books in front of her, Tom Sawyer and Anne (of Green Gables?). She's probably thinking, "See children run. Run children, run. Run away quickly. Here comes Mr. Bookmobile!"

Better Than the Ice Cream Man

It's the adorable Penguin Bookmobile circa 1937, introduced just 2 years after Allen Lane popularized paperback book publishing after launching Penguin Books. This same year Lane also invented the Penguincubator, a book-dispensing machine which made its' first appearance at 66 Charing Cross Road.
:: Via TYWKIWDBI (Tai-Wiki-Widbee). 

The Greenwich Library Bookmobile circa 1940.
:: Via Flickr

Boston Public Library Bookmobile circa 1963.
:: Via Flickr

The Biblioburro Bookmobile in La Gloria, Columbia began in the late 90s by teacher, Luis Soriano on the backs of his two burros, Alfa and Beto and with just 70 books. With the aid of donations, he has since built his own library by hand and now has 1000s of books to share with Columbian children. Soriano is an amazing soul and educating young children has become his life work. There is even a children's book published about him and his burros, titled Biblioburro by Jeanette Winter. You can read more about his heroic quest in a New York Times article and make donations at the Biblioburro Foundation website.

:: Photos below from Scott Dalton for the New York Times.