Children visiting bookmobile or deposit stations

Librarian helping children select books.

The family gathers to select their books from the bookmobile shelves. A small barefoot girl, with her hands clasped behind her back, watches.

Librarian and children at the bookmobile, between 1916 and 1921.

A woman in an apron stands with the librarian looking at the shelves. A group of boys in straw hats stand a little distance off. The dust on the back of the vehicle has been scribbled in.

The family gather at the bookmobile. Two bonneted women look at the books, while four small children look on.

The 1912 bookmobile traveled to farms throughout the county. Two boys and a girl stand by the bookmobile holding their selections. The boys both have large straw hats.

Children at, and some on, the bookmobile outside a large brick building.

Inside the bookmobile at its stop at Tilghmanton.

"Miona Roulette" written on back on photograph

The bookmobile 1950-1957.

It was decided that the service would be year round, so a new type of bookmobile had to be designed. Gone was the fair-weather vehicle of old, with the bookshelves on the outside, exposing the precious cargo to the elements whenever a stop was made for the patrons. A 1950 Studebaker truck was outfitted with "inside shelves, seating space for three, and a closet or bin in every other available spot." The total cost was $4,652.

The stone house, used at one point as a jail, was purchased by the Women's Club in 1921 and fitted as a Library. This Smithsburg Community Library is open two days in the week, one day for the school children and the other for the general public. With this branch there is a constant exchange of books from the main library.

(From Anniversary booklet)

From a July 29, 1926 newspaper account, quoting Lillian Barkdoll:

An attentive audience in Brownsville.