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The Bookbus shelves are quiet and restocked. The batteries which power the lights, computer and scanner are plugged in. Inside the bus the display is ready with biographies, books on ocean creatures, and how to paint. Several novels are stacked in piles with customers’ names assigned to each. Tomorrow’s reading waits. There’s a smell of paper, and Earl Grey tea, and rubber tyres.
Inside the Bookbus Librarian’s office, there’s a stack of paper on the Librarian’s desk: readers have shared their Bookbus stories, and here we are doing what we do: taking stories further and sharing some of them with you.
“I can remember the book bus way back in the 70s when I first arrived in Dunedin. Dunedin was the friendliest most warming community I had ever encountered, and the book bus (a strange hand painted affair, as I remember) was an amazing extension of that. It was there again in the 80s when I limped back into Dunedin’s comfy arms as a solo mum.
Now, in my old age it is, astonishingly, still here. It’s a friendly service provided by lovely people who dispense far more than suitable books and magazines.” ~ Christine
“I bike to the bookbus on Tuesdays. I like reading David Williams [sic] Paper Plus. P.S. The staff on the bookbus are very nice.” ~ Hudson
“I used to walk with my family out to the bookbus every Tuesday to get our favourite books out and enjoy them together. I had very fond memories of the times we went, and I think the thing that I remembered best about those trips was how friendly the librarian at the desk was. I will always remember those times I visited the bookbus. P.S I wrote this with the pen I got from the summer reading package thingmabob.” ~ Quintin
“I will be 79 this year so I have a good idea of the time period of the bookbus. My grateful thanks to Jo and all the hard work she puts in for all the requests of books I wish to read ... It is really good seeing Jo every Friday, and all my Friday friends who go to the bookbus at the same time.” ~ Ian
I like the bookbus because there is so much books to choose from. I like seeing my friends at the bookbus. I like getting funny books to read. ~ Talia (age 6)
“One day Debbie, my bubbly, enthusiastic friend called me to say she was opening a florist shop and wanted me to come on board with her. I refused by saying I knew nothing about floral arranging so the answer is no!!! Debbie promptly replied that she knew nothing either, like that made it even more exciting, so let’s just do it and see what happens. Eventually I succumbed and rang Bookbus Annie and asked her to bring out on Tuesday anything she could find on floral arrangements. Thirteen books turned up and after trawling through them all, the shop was opened and a couple of florists were born…Yeah right. It was a wonderful couple of years, with a lot learned. We both loved it.” ~ Carol
“I'm in my eighties now and have been availing myself of a fortnightly visit over the past 6 years to the wonderful Book bus that parks outside Mornington School every week. I am very grateful to the Library staff who select my books to read each time and it is obvious that records are kept of my favourite authors. It is very exciting from time to time to get a new favourite one! The care and attention from previously Louise, and now Kirsty (in charge of the bus) is of the highest standard and I feel blessed and happy after each visit to the bus.” ~ Barbara
“The bookbus comes every Thursday nearly right outside my house. It’s probably just a 30 second walk! Every time I go to the bookbus, I come back with a huge haul of books! Sometimes we even manage to fill up three whole library bags! One time there was construction going on near where the bookbus normally parks, so they had to park somewhere different. They ended up parking right outside our driveway! It was like having our own personal library! I love the bookbus!” ~ Greta
“It [The Bookbus] represents all that is good in the world ...
Friendly human contact
Community feeling
Compassion and understanding
Kindness
Conversations
Help and support
Connections
Exploration of literature and ideas
What more could we ask for! The Book Bus is a delight and a must for me every week.” ~ Lulu
The stories collected talk of belonging and books, conversations and connections, and joy. The Mobile Library Service has joyfully roamed Dunedin’s suburbs since April 1950. Each stop has its own story to tell and most of them have a happy ending.
A History of the Dunedin Public Libraries Service (Timeline) - Scattered Seeds
Freedom To Read: A Centennial History of Dunedin Public Library by Mary Ronnie
