Depending on the number of families using the stop, the length of time varies from 20 minutes to three hours. Most stops are scheduled every four weeks, although there are weekly and bi-weekly stops in Clarke County. Crates of preschool-appropriate thematic books and materials are circulated to the day care centers, and children and teachers are invited to choose from the collection of 5,000 preschool books transported by the library. The children's programming specialist provides a story program with puppets, songs, fingerplays, and all the elements of a traditional story hour. The Homebound van serves patrons who are unable to visit branch libraries or central Bookmobile stops.
Most homebound patrons are elderly and lack transportation or are physically disabled.
The van also provides deposit collections to nursing homes and senior citizen residence facilities. Books are rotated every five weeks. To send a reference question or e-mail to a library area click on Ask a Librarian .