Grand Island Public Library to Launch New Bookmobile in 2027
Grand Island, Neb. — The Grand Island Public Library will be expanding access to books, technology and library services throughout the community with the addition of a new Sprinter Bookmobile, which is expected to begin serving residents in 2027.
The new bookmobile is being made possible through a collaborative funding effort led by the Grand Island Public Library Foundation, whose generous contribution demonstrates its ongoing commitment to promoting literacy and lifelong learning for residents of all ages.
Funding for the project includes:
-Grand Island Public Library Foundation: $200,000
-Andrew Carnegie Grant: $9,818.28
-City of Grand Island Capital Funds: $70,000
-Total project funding: $279,818.28
In addition, new books and materials for the bookmobile will be funded through the Byron and Jan Moore Trust. The Grand Island Public Library Foundation has also applied for additional grant funding to support the purchase of laptops and expanded book collections for the mobile library.
The bookmobile has been ordered and is expected to arrive in spring 2027. Once operational, it will provide outreach services throughout Grand Island, including visits to daycares, preschools, schools, parks, nursing and retirement homes and community events. The mobile library will serve as a traveling branch of the Grand Island Public Library, providing access not only to books and other library materials, but also to technology and digital resources. The bookmobile will offer Wi-Fi access, and library staff will assist residents in utilizing online library services and databases, including Hoopla and Libby.
The initiative is part of the library's broader effort to increase accessibility and help address literacy needs within the community.
“Because we are a "captive foundation" that only supports one organization, we have the privilege of supporting past library facility renovations and have worked to carefully plan for the future needs of the library,” Grand Island Public Library Foundation Director Leigh Lillibridge said. “We are fortunate that planning, active fundraising and wonderful library supporters have positioned us to be able to provide the majority of the funding for the Bookmobile, while still being able to support library programs. We thank our generous donors and sponsors for their ongoing support of our work to secure funding for library programs each year. We are absolutely ecstatic about the bookmobile getting more books into hands in our community and can't wait for it to arrive next spring!”
Grand Island Public Library Director Celine Swan said the return of bookmobile services will help the library meet residents where they are and continue serving a growing community.
“The bookmobile will be customized for our library,” Swan said. “There is a lot of positive feedback for bookmobile services to be back. Grand Island is a big, growing city and we must continue to get out to people where they are at – very exciting times for GI!”
For more information about Grand Island Public Library programs and services, visit https://www.gilibrary.org or call (308) 385-5333. For more information about the Grand Island Public Library Foundation, visit https://giplf.org. The Grand Island Public Library serves residents of both the City of Grand Island and Hall County. Anyone who lives in or owns property within Hall County may apply for a library card at no cost. Residents can also access their library account, search the catalog and explore digital collections at https://gilibrary.tlcdelivers.comor by downloading the Grand Island Public Library mobile app.