Holmes County Commissioners fund new library bookmobile

While the Holmes County District Public Library has been gathering funds in anticipation of purchasing a new bookmobile, on Monday, June 1, the Holmes County Commissioners set the wheels in motion for good in presenting Library Director Paula Cicconetti with a check for $200,000.

Commissioner Dave Hall said while presenting the check that everyone knows this is a bookmobile and a service people rely on across the county.

Cicconetti said the library board and staff greatly appreciate the support from the commissioners.

“We are grateful for the investment in our bookmobile program,” Cicconetti said. “It serves all the residents throughout the county, particularly our youngest residents, our children.”

Cicconetti said the library is scheduled to receive the new piece of equipment sometime near the end of July, noting it is valuable to get it in prior to the beginning of the new school year because the library rolls out its school year schedule prior to then, and having two bookmobiles will allow the library to serve more people across the county and get to stops more frequently.

She said they have already received several requests to have a bookmobile stop including the new YMCA facility at NewPointe Church near Millersburg.

“Demand continues to grow,” Cicconetti said, also noting they serve a strong population of senior citizens including Danbury and other nursing facilities.

Because of the large Amish population that uses the bookmobile heavily and the expansive coverage area, the Holmes County District Public Library utilizes two bookmobiles in its everyday operation, doing a number of stops on the vehicles’ daily routines.

Commissioner Joe Miller had high praise for the job Cicconetti is doing in leading the library, calling her the best director he has seen in his 25 years as commissioner.

The funds provided were enough to move forward in the purchase of a new bookmobile, not a small purchase for the library.

“The last time we purchased a bookmobile 10 years ago when we bought a new one, it was about half the cost, around $200,000,” Cicconetti said. “Fortunately, we have been saving money for this over the past number of years, but we weren’t expecting this big of a price tag increase.”

Hall said the funds came out of the general budget, with the commissioners recognizing the need and recognizing an increase in sales tax revenue, which allowed them to invest in the project.

“We strongly support this because it is something that the whole county benefits from,” Miller said.

The bookmobile currently operating is a 2016 model while the oldest one the library is replacing is a 2006 model with major mileage and major mechanical issues. It is often having work done on it, and there have been times when they have had to have it towed back home during a stop.