Country Bookmobile (01-03)

Historical narrative

Before online-libraries; e-readers; and readily-available, affordable hard-copy books, there was the bookmobile, an early- to mid-1900s library-on-wheels that brought books and other reading materials to people living in areas without convenient access to regular libraries. Along with the books, came that uniquely cozy scent of old paper, vanilla-like lignin, dust, and engine exhaust. This Norman Rockwell-esque watercolor depicts a county bookmobile serving a line of awaiting readers in Mitchellville.

Watercolor

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved