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Have you been aboard our traveling library? No? Well, let me introduce you to our bookmobile! Decorated with cuddly bears, flying squirrels, and other animal friends, our bookmobile can be spotted traveling around Skokie neighborhood six days a week.  

You may be surprised to know that we've had a bookmobile since 1957. It has definitely changed over those years to become the bubbly blue bus that we drive around town today. Our newest bookmobile assistant, Leslie, shares that our Goodreads section is her favorite on the bookmobile. She says, “We get newer and more diverse authors here and there’s always something that sparks a good conversation when we’re asked for new recommendations.” 

As a bookmobile assistant, I love that I get to meet families around the neighborhood. Seeing kids get their new library cards and discover all the new picture books we have makes my day! It’s always good to see families running into their neighbors when they come on board. It’s another reminder of what a friendly community Skokie is. 

We understand not everyone can make it to our home base on Oakton Street. The bookmobile makes stops near local parks and schools to give families easier access to the library’s resources. We have 12 scheduled weekday stops that vary from 60 to 90 minutes. You can also catch us every other Saturday. Make sure to check our schedule to see if a time and location works for you.

We continue to expand our collection and resources for you. Our collection includes adult books, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, audiobooks, magazines, kid fiction, video games, picture books, and more. My favorite part of our collection is the special spot for our Illinois book award winners, like the Monarch Awards, Bluestem Awards, and the Caudill Awards. This section is always a good spot to visit if you need a recommendation. If you want to stay awhile, we have comfy benches you can sit on while you read or use our free WiFi.  

To access our free WiFi, you can either sit near the bookmobile or come inside and connect while we’re there. Our bus also has air conditioning to keep us all cool during the summer, and we have heat for the chillier seasons.  

We hope you visit us. Skokie residents and borrowers who've signed up with a card from another library are all welcome. Be sure to grab one of our neat bookmarks on your way out, and give a wave when we drive by!