While the bookmobile as Sampsonians have come to know it will be taken off the road Monday, all books will remain available at the county’s four branches and a scaled-down route will be maintained in a change the library director hopes is temporary.

The modification is one of many for the Sampson-Clinton Public Library system, which will also soon see a gaggle of new computers for patrons’ use.

Beginning Monday, the Sampson-Clinton Public Library System’s bookmobile will be on hiatus due to the retirement of one of two bookmobile librarians. With the state of the economy and strained revenues looming large over all departmental decisions, that position will not be filled. However, the remaining librarian will use a smaller vehicle to shuttle books around to eligible recipients.

“As we seek to streamline our library budget for the remainder of the fiscal year but provide much needed outreach services, the library will utilize a more economical courier van to meet the needs of our eligible homebound patrons,” stated Heather Bonney, library director for the system, which has four branches in Clinton, Newton Grove, Roseboro and Garland. “With the hiring freeze, I can’t hire anyone to fill that position. I’m not going to have that (position) for at least three months, until July 1.”

Bonney said she plans to include the position as part of next fiscal year’s budget, and is hopeful that the regular bookmobile service will be able to continue at that time.

The current bookmobile, a 1998 Bluebird bus, is used to deliver borrowed books all across the county. Such bookmobile service has been offered “in some way, shape or form” in Sampson County since the spring of 1949, Bonney said, referencing old county meeting minutes.

While the Bluebird was to travel its last route today, the bookmobile’s already 60-year-service will continue, Bonney attested.

“This is completely resting on the fact that I have one person (to operate it),” she said. “The bookmobile is big and cumbersome and has to travel down a lot of narrow roads. It really needs two people to navigate it. The bookmobile salary is being requested and hopefully it will be approved. We, by no means, are looking at changing this on a permanent basis.”

The modified bookmobile is expected to visit nursing homes and as many day cares as can be scheduled, Bonney said.

“Bookmobile services are important in a rural setting like Sampson County, and we hope to resume our bookmobile routes in the new fiscal year,” Bonney remarked. “However, in the meantime, we are asking that bookmobile patrons who are capable come visit us and enjoy using one of our library branches until we can resume normal bookmobile routes. I want to try to provide as much service as we can in the interim. We’re asking for a little patience to get through this time.”

Interim county manager Susan Holder called Bonney’s plan “creative,” and one that embodies the “new normal” mantra touted by county officials — learning to do more with less. One of the Board of Commissioners’ budget directives has been to limit the number of vacant positions filled, Holder said.

“Given the library’s limited staff and safety concerns with sending out the large bookmobile with only one employee, this will necessitate a change in how we serve our patrons who are visited by the bookmobile,” Holder stated.

To continue service, the remaining bookmobile librarian will visit eligible patrons utilizing the library van. Library officials personally sent bookmobile patrons a letter this week explaining who will be eligible for outreach services. Essentially, those eligible will be daycares, nursing homes and the homebound. The criteria used for “homebound patrons” is similar to those used by other library systems, and applied to Medicare Home Health restrictions and Meals on Wheels guidelines, county officials said.

Holder said the plan solves the library’s staffing shortage problem and greatly reduces other budget line items, including vehicle maintenance and repair and upkeep, i.e. gas., oil and tires.

However, with change comes a transition period.

“I do suspect that we will hear some complaints, as we currently provide bookmobile services to a number of patrons who will no longer be eligible for services,” said Holder.

She said, despite the change, the service itself will continue on a modified basis and the books are never that far away.

“It is important to note that given our four branches, nearly everyone in Sampson County is within 10 miles of a library facility, and we can transfer virtually any requested book among our branches,” Holder stated.

Among other changes, beginning April 1, technological improvements will be prevalent as the library makes 28 new computers available for its patrons, including 10 laptops and 18 upgraded replacements for current public computers.

Of the 18 computer replacements, seven will be at the Clinton branch, four each at the Newton Grove and Roseboro branches, and three at Garland. Clinton will have four of the laptops, each of the other branches will get two apiece.

Bonney said a new registration service will make it possible for patrons to reserve computers in advance from the library or via the web and to save print jobs for an entire day. New wireless access will also allow patrons in the library to use their own laptops and print using the library’s printers.

Also in April, the library’s after-school storytimes for ages 6-8 will transition to morning preschool storytimes for ages 3-5, led twice monthly at each branch by Addie Hodges, the new children’s librarian.

She urged those interested to find out more about the programs at their local library, and take part in the changing face of libraries by visiting one of the branches in Sampson.

“Libraries are really on the cutting edge,” she remarked. “Truly, the library and its staff have adapted over the years to best meet the needs of our citizens with our available resources, and we will continue those efforts in the months and years to come. I’m really excited. I hope people will like what we’re offering and really enjoy our services.”

Those with questions about the Sampson-Clinton Library’s existing programs, or new services, can contact Heather Bonney by email at scpl@intrstar.net or via phone at 910-592-4153. The Sampson-Clinton Public Library can be visited online at sites.google.com/site/sampsonclintonpubliclibrary.

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.