Mobile Libraries

The bookmobile 1916-1921

A 1916 Koehler truck specially equipped for library service was purchased for $1,339.50. It had a limousine front with seats for two passengers in addition to the chauffeur. The shelves on the side could accommodate 500 books, and there was room inside for six deposit station cases.

Cost breakdown
Koehler Truck Chassis - $940.00
Clock - 2.50
Speedometer & Lights - 38.00
Chains - 8.50
Linoleum and Aluminum binding for floor of car - 7.50
Cost of body fitted with shelves - 333.00

This was a 1912 IHC Autobuggy.

From the 1912 Annual Report of the Washington County Free Library...

County Extension.

(Book Wagon. Miss Chrissinger.)

The bookmobile visits Dargan in south Washington County.

The 1916-1921 bookmobile is pulled out of the mud... somewhere between Trego and Sample's Manor, in southern Washington County. Another photograph shows a horse doing the work to pull it out.

His first view of the bookwagon.

This bookmobile was in use 1912 to 1916.

In March of 1912 an IHC Autobuggy with body by Thomas White was delivered by the International Harvester Company. It had a specially constructed top with shelves for 300 books and storage room for four deposit station cases.

For several months in 1931 the bookmobile visited the Roxbury Penal Farm until the prison established their own library.

The bookmobile 1957-1969.

The Studebaker was sold for $320 and replaced by a GMC with automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, and a 206 HP, V-8 engine. The body was manufactured by Gerstenslager of Wooster, OH. The unit cost $12,895 and had a capacity for 2,800 books. The green and white GMC served Washington County until the late 1960's.

The bookmobile parked outside the Washington County Free Library on Summit Avenue, Hagerstown. This was the original library building and was in use until the 1960s.

Beulah K. Eyerly is seated next to the driver. She was an Assistant Librarian from 1912.

The bookmobile visits a home near Mondell's, close to Sharpsburg.