The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-07-01
Children's Bookmobile To
Start Operations Here Soon
Civic Minded
Key Westers
Form Company

Sidents have banded together to
form a non-profit corporation to
furnish a ''Bookmobile" which will
bring good reading right to the
doorSteps of local children.
The project came to light yester.
day when attorney Enrique Esquin-
aldo, Jr. filed the papers of in.
corporation in the Circuit Court.
President of the corporation,
which does not intend to make any
money, but rather proposes to en-
rich the minds of children of ell.
ementary school age, is Navy
Commander Walter F. Toy, 1914
Duck Ave. Mrs. Edward F. Bay
ly, 21O4 Fogarty Ave-, is vice presi-
dent and Mrs. R. E. Lilly, 2516
Harris Ave. is secretary-treasurer.
Members of the board of directors
include Edwin F. Trevor, 1857 Ave.
E, the Rev. John Reese, 800 Center
St., 1t. Cmdr. Charles Robinson,
and Mrs. George v. Rogers, As
Maine Road, Sigsbee Park.
Idea Conceived
Commander Toy explained today
that the project was conceived al
a meeting of the Poinciana School
Parent and Teachers Association
meeting in May.
A discussion brought out the
fact that the reading, ability of
many children of Navy families is
not up to standard because they are
often transferred in the middle OF
the school year. It was decided
that the ideal time to remedy the
situation would be during the sum,
mer vacation by encouraging child.
rem to read good books.
Problem: How to get the books
to the children since school librar
les are open only one hour a day
during the vacation period.
About half dozen parents held
several meetings and the result
was proposal to start a book.
mobile.
The results will be evidenced
when the Bookmobile starts max.
ing its rounds, probably next week
1t wasn't that easy, however
many hours of work and planning
have been necessary to make the
project reality.
Community Chest Helps
Toy declared that the city's SER
vice clubs have come through with
gifts of money for initial costs.
The Community Chest has offered
to pay the first months cost OF
operation with the possibility ad.
vanced that they may turn over
funds set aside for the operation
of the now-defunct Jayteen to the
Bookmobile project.
Edwin Trevor, owner of the
Columbia Laundry donated a used
laundry truck and the Mulberg
Chevrolet Co., helped with a paint
job for the vehicle. Volunteer
workers are installing movable
shelves in the truck. The school
children themselves have donated
about 1000 books for the travel.
ing library.
Mrs. Edith Russell, teacher al
Poinciana School will be the Ii.
brarian.
Bayly emphasized today that
every child in the the city will be
welcome to use the Bookmobile.
"And there is no intention OF
charging for the service, che add.
ed.
Five Zones
The city has been divided into
five zones with the Bookmobile
visiting different one daily. The
zones: 1. Areas outside the cit,
limits, including Boca Chica anC
Stock Island. 2. Poinciana Schoo
area. 3. Truman School area. 4
Douglass School area. S. Harris
School area and all civilian anc
Navy housing projects and the
Naval Base.
1--WE want to create within The
child the urge to read for himself,
said Toy, Teachers have endorsed
the idea enthusiastically"
He added the books the corpora
ton may purchase will be selected
for children from the first through
the sixth grade. AS soon as pos
sible, the Bookmobile plan will b,
extended to include junior high anc
high school ages. he added.
Commander Toy pointed out thai
the Bookmobile is still acceptins
contributions of suitable children:
books. Naval personnel may leave
books at the Naval Station librar,
while a civilian depot" will he