Return of the Bookmobile

Photo By Dayanti Karunaratne

By Dayanti Karunaratne

Photo By Dayanti Karunaratne

You’ve heard about pop-up books and pop-up restaurants — but have you heard of a pop-up library? That’s the idea behind the Molokai Public Library’s Bookmobile: It brings the books and a bit of that library vibe to locations across the island.
And, like a pop-up book, it unfolds to offer an array of words and pictures.
This month the Bookmobile made its first trips since 2021, when it visited the neighborhoods of Maunaloa and Kilohana. Helmed by Branch Manager Mia Ritte and Friends of The Molokai Library volunteer Della Brown, the compact cargo van is packed with books and adorned with decals featuring the new state library logo.
Two shelves inside the back of the van hold children’s titles. Cute, sturdy steps make it easy for little ones to crawl inside and explore the shelves.
Outside are carts full of adult books and non-fiction titles. This is a new addition to the Molokai Bookmobile: Previously the focus had been on children’s books, but there is now a range of popular fiction, books about Hawaiian culture and other adult titles.
Brown is the Vice President of the Friends of Molokai Public Library. The former teacher says she loves being around children, but points out that the Bookmobile isn’t just for kids.
“There’s a wide variety of adult books. They are trying to bring in both kids and adults, and I think that’s important,” she says.
“Because the Bookmobile is mobile, the library is able to get the books closer and more available for adults outside Kaunakakai,” Brown said, encouraging parents and caregivers to visit for the story time and take the opportunity to browse the books while they are there.
Accordingly, there’s a good selection of how-to books on subjects such as cookbooks, carpentry and farming. There was even a beautiful hardcover book detailing the artifacts recently on display at the British Museum in London in an exhibit entitled “Hawaiʻi: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans.”
A folding table serves as the check-out counter, and a shade tent keeps the staff cool.
Library card holders can now select Bookmobile as a pick-up option for their requested items, and books can be returned through the Bookmobile.
Brown’s organization helped to outfit the Bookmobile with the branded decals as well as the window shades, which protect books from sun damage. They also bought the colorful plush rug that encourages children to spend time picking out a book.
Ritte and Brown visited Maunaloa on August 11. They set up in the parking lot beside Maunaloa Community Center and greeted passersby for a few hours until the Maunaloa Elementary School bell rang, ejecting a wave of children.
As kids wandered past the Bookmobile, the bright tent caught their attention. Ritte and Brown offered cookies. Some came right over; others returned with their ʻohana to explore.
Ritte brought a computer to look up cardholders whenever the physical card was not available. People can also register for a library card — it’s free for residents, who just need current identification and proof of mailing address. (Visitor cards are $10 to $25; non-residents must provide valid ID, temporary address and proof of permanent address.)
At around 2:15 p.m., Ritte gathered the keiki together for story time. A rug was laid out, and about 10 kids enjoyed “Chicken Little — Hawaiian Style”. (It has a happier ending, with the hen’s friends too busy catching and collecting for the feast to help build the imu, so they all feast together.)
On August 13, Ritte and Brown drove east, parking the Bookmobile and setting up the table and carts outside Kilohana Community Center, beside Kilohana Elementary. One Kilohana Elementary teacher brought her class to the Bookmobile, and a few families dropped by before school’s end. A few more who passed by on their walk home stopped in and checked out books.
Next up for the Bookmobile is a trip to Home Pumehana on Thursday, August 27, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Visit https://www.librarieshawaii.org/visit/bookmobiles/molokai-bookmobile/ to see the Bookmobile’s schedule.