Cybermobile

The Grayson County Public Library won a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives to become the first library in Kentucky with internet access out on the bookmobile.  All total, the project cost us $69,000, broken down like this:

            Bookmobile                                                $49,300

            Satellite (including installation & server)    $ 6,313

            Custom paint job                                        $ 5,675

            2 workstations & a laptop                        $ 6,337

            Wireless network                                        $   548

            Internet Service                                        $99/mo.

We chose to go with a wireless network so that we could add more laptops along the way, and the patrons would not be limited to being physically connected to the cybermobile.  The laptops should be able to be taken up to 350 feet away from the vehicle and still have access to the internet through the satellite, but we haven't proven that yet.

The bookmobile librarian changed his schedule from an every-other-week schedule to monthly stops to accommodate more users, but we have since changed back because he had a lot of open time.  Some stops have been lengthened to allow enough time for research.

OptiStreams is the satellite internet service provider, and our circulation system is The Library Corporation.  Being connected via the internet enables real-time circulation and access to the OPAC, making this a fully-functioning mobile branch.

For more information, contact Scott Belcher at (270) 259-5455.

                                                        This page last updated  11/16/2007