If the Showmobile convinces even a few children that happiness is a good book on a long summer day, the whole effort will be worthwhile, Waters believed. In 1969 the Showmobile was funded by City Council and became a permanent part of the Dallas Public Library program. The Showmobile circulated 15,000 books that summer. In 1972 the Casa View bookmobile was discontinued and in February 1973 a new mini book bus, called the Toddler, began service at West Dallas Branch. Two features, which made the unit unique, were that no set route was established so that the bus could merely go where the crowds were and no fines were collected for overdue books.
Books are the key to all knowledge.
In September the Friends of the Library purchased a film projector for the Toddler. There was a microphone, a lighted panel on the outside with changeable letters, a weatherproof bulletin board, a raised stage and was it carpeted throughout. The unit was planned to encourage patrons to investigate the branch library and was designed to be easily accessible to the community. We feel certain that this unit will prove very popular with the community it serves. In October the Media Machine was displayed at the State Fair of Texas.