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Long before Amazon, Audible, and other digital book distributors, bookmobiles were bringing literature to peoples' doorsteps. Their mission was to provide remote villages and city suburbs that had no libraries with books to read. We invite you to remember these almost forgotten four-wheelers of the past.
The first mobile library is believed to have appeared in Warrington, England in the late 1850s. It was a horse-drawn cart and lent about 12,000 books during its first year of service. Later, such mobile public libraries were installed inside vehicles and reached the height of their popularity in the mid-20th century when they had become a part of Americal life and were loved by every bookworm.
Although bookmobiles are still operated in some parts of the world by libraries, schools, activists, and other organizations, they are widely thought to be an outdated service due to high costs, advanced technology, and impracticality.
Now scroll down below and check the vintage photos showcasing a piece from our past!
(h/t: vintageeveryday, messynessychic)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
An Opened Bookmobile, 1925
Sissy Hankshaw 8 years ago
jeeeze.. what a great way to spend your life... driving around with this exactly car, bringing books to the people.
Eveline Sucahyo 8 years ago
We still have these in Indonesia! It's called "perpustakaan keliling!" 😁
JessPotato84 5 years ago
In addition, I imagine it may have posed a number of difficulties acquiring a 1935 Ford...in 1925. 😏😄 This photo, and the article, are absolutely stunning...I created an account specially to be able to post on this. Amazing...I love it! Cheers, and happy Mama's Day! Much tuber love! 😍
Christine Cunliffe 5 years ago
Wonderful haven't come that far really so much more people interaction then.
Gary Yaeger 5 years ago
The Ford Truck is a 1935, not 1925. Here is a 1925 Ford Truck. 1925-Model...e178c8.jpg 
Tony Thomas 5 years ago
Yes could be a 34 or 35 Ford Commercial, they both had the hood side emblem top center.
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#2
The First Bookmobile Of The Public Library Of Cincinnati, 1927
Javier Mir 8 years ago
Not only how they dress but also how they stand! Right now not everyone stands so straight up
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#3
A Mobile Library In Kurdistan, Iran, 1970
Eva Klevska 5 years ago
Yikes. This one really seems to be counting on the fact nobody out there could read.
#4
Inside A Bookmobile, 1960s
John Ashley 8 years ago
Although my grade school had plenty of books (that you could borrow) in every classroom, our grade school didn't have its own library, so a county library bookmobile came by. Looked a lot like this one. Got exposed to Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, Heinlein, and many other SF authors whose books they carried. Probably the only thing about school I looked forward to. Sincere thanks and cheers for the people of the Ohio Lucas County Library and their bookmobiles.
Linda Joyce 5 years ago
I’ve worked in one like that one when I first started worke in Rica Libraries in 1972. We didn’ have a catalogue though , I would take the customers request and bring it to the next time we stoped at her stop
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Jani Coster 8 years ago
As a young kid during the 60's we lived for a while at a research lab deep in the Big Thicket along the Gulf Coast, out from Beaumont, Texas. We used to drive out to what served as the main road into Sour Lake and meet up with the bookmobile. It was similar to the one pictured here but I recall it had more books and wasn't as well lit. A great summer, reading my books out by the bayou.
Wendy Hall 5 years ago
We had a library like this come to our village in England the closest library was 5 miles away
Linda Walsh 5 years ago
This is what our book mobile looked like. It would park at the nearby park for an hour or so every three weeks. It was a great to go to the book mobile.
Judy Hedley 5 years ago
Yes! I rode my bike from the farm to the hamlet to find and check out books for my summer reading. The bookmobile looked just like this photograph.
Theresa Palmieri 5 years ago
This looks like the bookmobile that my aunt worked on, and I used to take out books to read when I was a child. I received a 'waiver' on the number of books I could check out each time it would come (it came every 14 days/2 weeks), because even then I would read one or more books a day. I still try to read as much as possible and have an eclectic taste and read tomes across the board. Thank you Washington State for the opportunity to get my hands on so many and expansive variety of books as a child, and to be able to travel the world, while I physically lived on an island.
#5
One Of The Library Bookmobiles, C. 1948.
Sonja Sundqvist 5 years ago
I wonder how people like these, if they cannot afford to buy books, find books to read? Are there small libraries in most small towns?
#6
A Bookmobile In Indonesia, Early 20th Century.
#7
The Bookmobile In Columbia Park, C. 1940
Randy Whitefield 8 years ago
Yeah I did. First thing I saw. .... photos are great though
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Betty Hable 5 years ago
Classic mom, look at her shoes, then look at the little girl's shoes...Happy Mother's Day.
Brent Sarazin 5 years ago
The one thing that has always been an indicator of someone's wealth is to look at their shoes. This mother really loved her kids and probably read to them every night before bed.
Susan Yewell 5 years ago
This little girl is darling....love her outfit and she is so happy carrying her Books.
Sharon Green 5 years ago
The "C" next to the date(the 1940 date) means "circa" and if I am not mistaken that stands for "about".....
Load More Replies... #8
Bookmobile
Terry Parks 5 years ago
that little girl in the middle is either looking out to her right side of her eye at the little blonde haired boy, who's holding three books (and he's checking her out), or is she eyeing the camera-person???
#9
Book Caravan In Iowa, C.1927
Sonja Sundqvist 5 years ago
Why would a city like this seems to be, not have a tax-supported library?
Christine Anklan 5 years ago
In the 60’s my community had a large library but we also had bookmobiles. Many women didn’t drive or families only had 1 car. The bookmobiles primary came to our neighborhood in the summer when school was out of session.
Load More Replies... #10
Multnomah County Library, 1926
Mary Stone 5 years ago
Looks like it is. https://www.flickr.com/photos/multnomahcountylibrary/albums/72157626687706709
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Greensboro, North Carolina, 1936
#12
An Impatient Queue For A Dutch Bookmobile
#13
The Library’s Bookmobile On Compton Road, C.1933
#14
Three Of The Bookmobile Staff, C.1930
#15
Craig Medvigny (left) And David Sutton Enjoying A Book; Eleanor Mann Substitute Traveling Branch Librarian, C. 1920s
Kim Carnahan 8 years ago
Definitely not a photo from the 1920s. Judging by styles, it is from the 1950s.
Kathy Whalen 8 years ago
I'd have guessed early fifties but Dead Warrior (second shelf up on right) was published in 1960 and as best as I can tell The Cat Club (held by shirtless boy) with that cover was published by Harper and Row 1960.
#16
Mrs. Josie Sanders, Richard Sanders, Jerome Sanders And Two Younger Children. C1950s
Sharon Green 5 years ago
The little girl standing next to her big brother is so cute! She looks like she is thinking "Well, what's next?"......lol
#17
A Horse-drawn Cart In Washington In The 1900s. It Was One Of The First American Bookmobiles, Built In 1905, But Was Hit And Destroyed By A Train In 1910
Chris Morris 5 years ago
even in the early 1900's trains were sneaking up vehicles and hitting them
#18
A Bookmobile In Indonesia, Early 20th Century.
JessPotato84 5 years ago
Elohim, the woman that gave birth to you made a number of mistakes, it would seem. Go chew on a shoe until you learn to have some respect for the healers, peacemakers, and caretakers of this world. You should be ashamed of yourself, and I have no doubt that your mother is, too. Happy Mama's Day, everyone! 😍
#19
A Mobile Library In Canterbury
#20
A Boston Public Library Bookmobile, 1963
Dorothy Matheson 5 years ago
I truly loved the one that came during the summer one year, It had a limit of 7 books and I read them all each week. Eventually the librian had to pick some different books to bring for me to read and I found Zane Gray that way. Thanks Austin Texas Library
#21
A Bus With A View, 1967
#22
Utah State Library Bookmobile On The Road Circa 1970
Shannon Babb 5 years ago
And we are so lucky here, Bookmobiles still serve many small rural communities here in Utah.
#23
The Library's Bookmobile
#24
Children Gathering At The Bookmobile, C. 1912
#25
Children Gathering At The Kern County Free Library Bookmobile At Aztec School, 1947
Fire Bird 8 years ago
that girl's expression on the far left of the picture. Either she is having trouble reading or lunch isnt sitting to well with her.
Glen Dotson 5 years ago
Perhaps the girl on the left needed glasses and her arms weren't long enough!
#26
A Very Fine Bookmobile Owned By The New Castle County Free Library
#27
Rockville Fair, Maryland, 1928
Mary Ellen Steele 5 years ago
I agree. The contemporary version could read, "County Library We Need to Keep Ours'.
Miriam Plack 5 years ago
Love this!!! Today they want to close libraries and go totally tech. Nothing like having the book in your hands and HB, not PB!!
#28
A Circulating Library In A Streetcar In Munich, Germany
Matt Leger 5 years ago
Wow! I've never seen a streetcar library before. Why couldn't New Orleans have done that?
Brent Sarazin 5 years ago
This goes to show the desire for knowledge that we so take for Granted now and the resources we have available compared to...Then.
Katharina Meyer 5 years ago
Thanks for the information. I live in Munich but didn't know this before.
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#30
Sanpete County Bookmobile
Joni Wagner 5 years ago
Why aren't all bookshelves, even in-home ones slanted even slightly? It just makes such good sense!
Nancy Nagler 5 years ago
The slant made it harder for the books to get jostled out of the shelves. Potholes that bounced me to the ceiling of the cab excepted.
Load More Replies... Nancy Nagler 5 years ago
Quite similar to the Super Pickle but brighter. Great outside painting work too.
Emma Hinchman 5 years ago
And then place books with spines horizontal to better read the titles.
#31
Summer Rural Service, 1936
#32
Bookmobile
#33
The Book Caravan, One Of The First Traveling Bookshops, 1920.
Brenda Blade 5 years ago
Love this. Not a lot of people read books anymore but I do. There is nothing that compares to it!
Brent Sarazin 5 years ago
So true. It takes time but it is the Time of your life to enter the universe of the mind and imagination.
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Peg Wakefield Doheny 5 years ago
Oh, so not true about people not reading books anymore. Publishing is at an all time high!
#34
Books Free For Everybody, Right At The Door – If You Vote "yes"
#35
Library Bookmobiles In Front Of Union Terminal
Roz Massel 5 years ago
Recognized the building having grown up in Cinncinnati. Having moved from the Bronx in NY, I was overjoyed to find the library almost immediately. Got my first library card at the age of five. How awesome was that. I am now 90, so the library has been part of my life forever.
#36
The Library’s Bookmobile In Sharonville, Circa 1938
Marcie Reinertson 5 years ago
Love this one too! Look at all the women eager to read and learn!
#37
California State Library Bookmobile, C. 1950
Robin Jaske 5 years ago
This photo was taken at the Kern County Fairgrounds, possibly during the fair!
#38
Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile
L.A. Tamara 5 years ago
I definitely could see myself doing this. I would just need a partner who could drive !
#39
Bookmobile, Southgate District, C. 1920s
Kim Carnahan 8 years ago
This is definitely not in the 1920s. The girl on the steps is wearing a 1940s style head wrap and cut off denim shorts, which would NEVER have been worn in the 20s, nor did little boys go shirtless or wear jeans. The styles indicate the 1940s.
Fire Bird 8 years ago
Back then parents must have bought boy's pants super long so they could grow into them. All of them seen to have them rolled up. Or that was the style. Don't know.
Judy Johnson 5 years ago
Well, boys tend to go through a stage where they grow up faster than they grow out. Clothes were expensive and had to last
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Gail Littlejohn 5 years ago
See #25 - 1947, also Kern County, same typeface on van. I agree that this is a 1940s, or even early 50s, photo.
#40
Bookmobile In Madrid Spain
#41
The Library's First Bookmobile, C. 1927
#43
Onboard The Connecticut State Library’s Bookmobile With Margaret Sullivan And Marcella Finan, 1967
#44
Chris Junapa Standing In The Bookmobile, 1980
Matt Leger 5 years ago
Depends. Is the caption referring to the adult lady or the little girl in the cowboy hat?
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Michael Kenney 5 years ago
Interesting take on our language. "Standing" can be an adjective or a last name. "Chris" can be a male or female name. No wonder it's hard to make ourselves understood sometimes.
Raewyn The-Librarian 5 years ago
My issue is with the sign on the door... 'Fer the Frontier' Surely there are two r's in Ferr? lol!
Michael Kenney 5 years ago
Interesting take on our language. Standing can be a last name or an adjective. Chris can be a male or female name. No wonder it's hard to make ourselves understood sometimes.
#45
Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile
Michael Kenney 5 years ago
Great example of managing behavior in a subtle and positive way.
Load More Replies... Balencia Erskine 5 years ago
Based on the length of the skirt, the tennis shoes and bobby socks, it looks like early to mid 1960's.
#46
Patrons Visit The Bookmobile In 1962. Mrs James B. Wilson, Librarian, Performs Readers' Advisory Service At Far Right
#47
Carolyn Herntz Assists Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile, 1958
JessPotato84 5 years ago
Are those magnets announcing the next arrival? Glob, these are all so incredible! 😮😍
#48
Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile
#49
A Photo Of The Bookmobile From Washington County (md) Free Library
#50
Bookmobile At Headquarters, 1977
John Olinger 8 years ago
I mean this exact truck! Bakersfield, Ca. Kern County Library!
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#51
Presentation Of The New Bookmobile At The Paris Colonial Exposition Held In Paris France, 1931
#52
Bookmobile, About 1925
#53
Bookmobile Interior, May 1927
Brent Sarazin 5 years ago
Wow. The leather straps. That must have smelt really nice when the Sun would shine on it.
JessPotato84 5 years ago
Oh, the lengths I would go to, to see my beloved home in 1927! A girl can dream, no? And read...and read...and read... 😏😊
#54
Bookmobile, 1930s
Matt Leger 5 years ago
Probably a cheaper knockoff of the Radio Flyer. Lots of companies tried to copy their success.
Load More Replies... #55
Summer Book Wagon, 1928
#56
Bookmobile, 1924
#57
Kids At Bookmobile
#58
A Tram In Berlin With 2400 Books In Berlin, 1952
Michael Kenney 5 years ago
Can't help but recall that only a few years earlier some people were burning books in Germany. Wonderful how enlightenment always returns. But at great cost.
JessPotato84 5 years ago
This is really beautiful. Thanks for the perspective check, Michael...all the more poignant and potent. May we never forget. 👫😍
#59
Framingham Public Library, 1956
#62
Paul Buttars, Former Manager Of The Utah State Library Bookmobile Program, In One Of The “older” Bookmobiles. Taken In Chesterfield, Ut, C.1975
#64
Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile
#67
Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile In 1962, Assisted By Mrs. James B. Wilson And Mrs. William H. Gary
Kim Carnahan 8 years ago
Notice how the women were not identified by their own first names, but by their husbands'.
Margie Edwards 5 years ago
That's how it was back in the day. And the children were required to respectfully say, "Yes, ma'am" and "No Ma'am" or "Yes, Sir" or "No Sir".
Peg Wakefield Doheny 5 years ago
And the women were addressed as a Mrs. so and so.
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Patrons Visit The Bookmobile
#69
Bookmobile, C. 1950
Michael Bratton 5 years ago
The Postman would put a notice in the mailbox when the bookmobile would be coming down our street. I had a bike just like that.
#72
Bookmobile
#74
Bookmobile, 1999
#75
Bookmobile
Dianna Carpenter 5 years ago
Oh, I loved the Book Mobile. It came to my neighborhood in th Tulsa burbs every 2 weeks.
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What do you think ?
Barbara Delahunty 8 years ago
We still have mobile libraries in Ireland. Town libraries are accessible for most, but for people in rural areas, the book bus is invaluable
Louiiiise 8 years ago
We still have one where I live (Switzerland), it's called the bibliobus and a lot of people frequent it (including me). If you want to see what a modern mobile library looks like: www.bibliobus.ch
Rokas L 8 years ago
As I've mentioned in the text, some do still exist. Other countries include Australia, Indonesia, and even camel-powered ones in Kenya:)
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Brigitte 8 years ago
I don't think bookmobiles are "forgotten four-wheelers of the past". There is still one in the town where I live. Even though the public library is easy to reach, the mobile is for those who are too old or sick or can't afford the bus ticket to go there. I'm sure other cities have bookmobiles as well.
Rokas L 8 years ago
Like I've said in the text, it's true that some are still operational. However, compared to the 20th century, bookmobiles are nowhere near as popular:)
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Gordon Clay 8 years ago
I created the Browsers' Bookmobile in 1994 that held over 1,000 books on 60 different men's issues. Check out http://bit.ly/flF1Ku. I drove it, full-time, through 26 states and over 30,000 miles, retiring it in 2000. I gave the books to Michigan State University's Changing Men collection and the RV to a family in need in Crescent City, California.
Natalie Meggison 8 years ago
It's a shame that the commentary reads like these are a thing of the past. Bookmobiles are still very common - as many below have noted - and the headline implies that with Amazon, bookmobiles died. This just contributes to the ignorance of the general public who may not be aware that this excellent service is available in their own communities. An interesting collection of photos - shame about the commentary.
Zori the degu 8 years ago
I`ve never seen a library on the move, but I`ve seen a book shop builded inside a bus.
Margriet Ruurs 5 years ago
Love these photos. And you'll like my book about mobile libraries around the world! It shows donkey libraries, camels, boats and more! camel-5eb6...481038.jpg 
Barbara Delahunty 8 years ago
We still have mobile libraries in Ireland. Town libraries are accessible for most, but for people in rural areas, the book bus is invaluable
Louiiiise 8 years ago
We still have one where I live (Switzerland), it's called the bibliobus and a lot of people frequent it (including me). If you want to see what a modern mobile library looks like: www.bibliobus.ch
Rokas L 8 years ago
As I've mentioned in the text, some do still exist. Other countries include Australia, Indonesia, and even camel-powered ones in Kenya:)
Load More Replies... Brigitte 8 years ago
I don't think bookmobiles are "forgotten four-wheelers of the past". There is still one in the town where I live. Even though the public library is easy to reach, the mobile is for those who are too old or sick or can't afford the bus ticket to go there. I'm sure other cities have bookmobiles as well.
Rokas L 8 years ago
Like I've said in the text, it's true that some are still operational. However, compared to the 20th century, bookmobiles are nowhere near as popular:)
Load More Replies... Gordon Clay 8 years ago
I created the Browsers' Bookmobile in 1994 that held over 1,000 books on 60 different men's issues. Check out http://bit.ly/flF1Ku. I drove it, full-time, through 26 states and over 30,000 miles, retiring it in 2000. I gave the books to Michigan State University's Changing Men collection and the RV to a family in need in Crescent City, California.
Natalie Meggison 8 years ago
It's a shame that the commentary reads like these are a thing of the past. Bookmobiles are still very common - as many below have noted - and the headline implies that with Amazon, bookmobiles died. This just contributes to the ignorance of the general public who may not be aware that this excellent service is available in their own communities. An interesting collection of photos - shame about the commentary.
Zori the degu 8 years ago
I`ve never seen a library on the move, but I`ve seen a book shop builded inside a bus.
Margriet Ruurs 5 years ago
Love these photos. And you'll like my book about mobile libraries around the world! It shows donkey libraries, camels, boats and more! camel-5eb6...481038.jpg
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