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Long before Amazon, Audible, and other digital book distributors, bookmobiles were bringing literature to peoples' doorsteps. Their mission was to provide remote villages and city suburbs that had no libraries with books to read. We invite you to remember these almost forgotten four-wheelers of the past.

The first mobile library is believed to have appeared in Warrington, England in the late 1850s. It was a horse-drawn cart and lent about 12,000 books during its first year of service. Later, such mobile public libraries were installed inside vehicles and reached the height of their popularity in the mid-20th century when they had become a part of Americal life and were loved by every bookworm.

Although bookmobiles are still operated in some parts of the world by libraries, schools, activists, and other organizations, they are widely thought to be an outdated service due to high costs, advanced technology, and impracticality.

Now scroll down below and check the vintage photos showcasing a piece from our past!

(h/t: vintageeveryday, messynessychic)

#1

An Opened Bookmobile, 1925

An Opened Bookmobile, 1925

Numismatic Bibliomania Society Report

#2

The First Bookmobile Of The Public Library Of Cincinnati, 1927

The First Bookmobile Of The Public Library Of Cincinnati, 1927

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#3

A Mobile Library In Kurdistan, Iran, 1970

A Mobile Library In Kurdistan, Iran, 1970

wikimedia Report

#4

Inside A Bookmobile, 1960s

Inside A Bookmobile, 1960s

Bibliobussen Report

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#5

One Of The Library Bookmobiles, C. 1948.

One Of The Library Bookmobiles, C. 1948.

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#6

A Bookmobile In Indonesia, Early 20th Century.

A Bookmobile In Indonesia, Early 20th Century.

wikimedia Report

#7

The Bookmobile In Columbia Park, C. 1940

The Bookmobile In Columbia Park, C. 1940

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#8

Bookmobile

Bookmobile

Multnomah County Library Report

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#9

Book Caravan In Iowa, C.1927

Book Caravan In Iowa, C.1927

Report

#10

Multnomah County Library, 1926

Multnomah County Library, 1926

Multnomah County Library Report

#11

Greensboro, North Carolina, 1936

Greensboro, North Carolina, 1936

Crossett Library Report

#12

An Impatient Queue For A Dutch Bookmobile

An Impatient Queue For A Dutch Bookmobile

Bibliobussen Report

#13

The Library’s Bookmobile On Compton Road, C.1933

The Library’s Bookmobile On Compton Road, C.1933

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#14

Three Of The Bookmobile Staff, C.1930

Three Of The Bookmobile Staff, C.1930

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#15

Craig Medvigny (left) And David Sutton Enjoying A Book; Eleanor Mann Substitute Traveling Branch Librarian, C. 1920s

Craig Medvigny (left) And David Sutton Enjoying A Book; Eleanor Mann Substitute Traveling Branch Librarian, C. 1920s

Kern County Library Report

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#16

Mrs. Josie Sanders, Richard Sanders, Jerome Sanders And Two Younger Children. C1950s

Mrs. Josie Sanders, Richard Sanders, Jerome Sanders And Two Younger Children. C1950s

Kern County Library Report

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#17

A Horse-drawn Cart In Washington In The 1900s. It Was One Of The First American Bookmobiles, Built In 1905, But Was Hit And Destroyed By A Train In 1910

A Horse-drawn Cart In Washington In The 1900s. It Was One Of The First American Bookmobiles, Built In 1905, But Was Hit And Destroyed By A Train In 1910

Crossett Library Report

#18

A Bookmobile In Indonesia, Early 20th Century.

A Bookmobile In Indonesia, Early 20th Century.

wikimedia Report

#19

A Mobile Library In Canterbury

A Mobile Library In Canterbury

Christchurch City Libraries Report

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#20

A Boston Public Library Bookmobile, 1963

A Boston Public Library Bookmobile, 1963

Boston Public Library Report

#21

A Bus With A View, 1967

A Bus With A View, 1967

Bibliobussen Report

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#22

Utah State Library Bookmobile On The Road Circa 1970

Utah State Library Bookmobile On The Road Circa 1970

Utah State Library Report

#23

The Library's Bookmobile

The Library's Bookmobile

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#24

Children Gathering At The Bookmobile, C. 1912

Children Gathering At The Bookmobile, C. 1912

Kern County Library Report

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#25

Children Gathering At The Kern County Free Library Bookmobile At Aztec School, 1947

Children Gathering At The Kern County Free Library Bookmobile At Aztec School, 1947

Kern County Library Report

#26

A Very Fine Bookmobile Owned By The New Castle County Free Library

A Very Fine Bookmobile Owned By The New Castle County Free Library

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

#27

Rockville Fair, Maryland, 1928

Rockville Fair, Maryland, 1928

Report

#28

A Circulating Library In A Streetcar In Munich, Germany

A Circulating Library In A Streetcar In Munich, Germany

Crossett Library Report

#29

Bookmobile At Anne Arundel County Fair, 1973

Bookmobile At Anne Arundel County Fair, 1973

Report

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#30

Sanpete County Bookmobile

Sanpete County Bookmobile

Utah State Library Report

#31

Summer Rural Service, 1936

Summer Rural Service, 1936

Multnomah County Library Report

#32

Bookmobile

Bookmobile

Multnomah County Library Report

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#33

The Book Caravan, One Of The First Traveling Bookshops, 1920.

The Book Caravan, One Of The First Traveling Bookshops, 1920.

Report

#34

Books Free For Everybody, Right At The Door – If You Vote "yes"

Books Free For Everybody, Right At The Door – If You Vote "yes"

Hans Krol Report

#35

Library Bookmobiles In Front Of Union Terminal

Library Bookmobiles In Front Of Union Terminal

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#36

The Library’s Bookmobile In Sharonville, Circa 1938

The Library’s Bookmobile In Sharonville, Circa 1938

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

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#37

California State Library Bookmobile, C. 1950

California State Library Bookmobile, C. 1950

Kern County Library Report

#38

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

#39

Bookmobile, Southgate District, C. 1920s

Bookmobile, Southgate District, C. 1920s

Kern County Library Report

#40

Bookmobile In Madrid Spain

Bookmobile In Madrid Spain

Crossett Library Report

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#41

The Library's First Bookmobile, C. 1927

The Library's First Bookmobile, C. 1927

Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Report

#42

A Czech Book Truck

A Czech Book Truck

KMP Report

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#43

Onboard The Connecticut State Library’s Bookmobile With Margaret Sullivan And Marcella Finan, 1967

Onboard The Connecticut State Library’s Bookmobile With Margaret Sullivan And Marcella Finan, 1967

Bristol Public Library Report

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#44

Chris Junapa Standing In The Bookmobile, 1980

Chris Junapa Standing In The Bookmobile, 1980

Kern County Library Report

#45

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

#46

Patrons Visit The Bookmobile In 1962. Mrs James B. Wilson, Librarian, Performs Readers' Advisory Service At Far Right

Patrons Visit The Bookmobile In 1962. Mrs James B. Wilson, Librarian, Performs Readers' Advisory Service At Far Right

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

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#47

Carolyn Herntz Assists Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile, 1958

Carolyn Herntz Assists Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile, 1958

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

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#48

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

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#49

A Photo Of The Bookmobile From Washington County (md) Free Library

A Photo Of The Bookmobile From Washington County (md) Free Library

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

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#50

Bookmobile At Headquarters, 1977

Bookmobile At Headquarters, 1977

Kern County Library Report

#51

Presentation Of The New Bookmobile At The Paris Colonial Exposition Held In Paris France, 1931

Presentation Of The New Bookmobile At The Paris Colonial Exposition Held In Paris France, 1931

Crossett Library Report

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#52

Bookmobile, About 1925

Bookmobile, About 1925

Multnomah County Library Report

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#53

Bookmobile Interior, May 1927

Bookmobile Interior, May 1927

Multnomah County Library Report

#54

Bookmobile, 1930s

Bookmobile, 1930s

Multnomah County Library Report

#55

Summer Book Wagon, 1928

Summer Book Wagon, 1928

Multnomah County Library Report

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#56

Bookmobile, 1924

Bookmobile, 1924

Multnomah County Library Report

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#57

Kids At Bookmobile

Kids At Bookmobile

Multnomah County Library Report

#58

A Tram In Berlin With 2400 Books In Berlin, 1952

A Tram In Berlin With 2400 Books In Berlin, 1952

Junge, Peter Heinz Report

#59

Framingham Public Library, 1956

Framingham Public Library, 1956

Framingham Public Library Local History Report

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#60

Utah State Library Bookmobile On The Road, 1970

Utah State Library Bookmobile On The Road, 1970

Utah State Library Report

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#61

The Bookmobile Of Providence Public Library, 1967

The Bookmobile Of Providence Public Library, 1967

Providence Public Library Report

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#62

Paul Buttars, Former Manager Of The Utah State Library Bookmobile Program, In One Of The “older” Bookmobiles. Taken In Chesterfield, Ut, C.1975

Paul Buttars, Former Manager Of The Utah State Library Bookmobile Program, In One Of The “older” Bookmobiles. Taken In Chesterfield, Ut, C.1975

Utah State Library Report

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#63

The Bicentennial Bookmobile In Utah, 1976

The Bicentennial Bookmobile In Utah, 1976

Utah State Library Report

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#64

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

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#65

Bookmobile, C. 1950

Bookmobile, C. 1950

Kern County Library Report

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#66

Getting Ready, 1976

Getting Ready, 1976

Kern County Library Report

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#67

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile In 1962, Assisted By Mrs. James B. Wilson And Mrs. William H. Gary

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile In 1962, Assisted By Mrs. James B. Wilson And Mrs. William H. Gary

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

#68

Patrons Visit The Bookmobile

Patrons Visit The Bookmobile

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

#69

Bookmobile, C. 1950

Bookmobile, C. 1950

Kern County Library Report

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#70

Interior Of A Circulating Library In A Streetcar In Munich, Germany

Interior Of A Circulating Library In A Streetcar In Munich, Germany

Crossett Library Report

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#71

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Patrons Visiting The Bookmobile

Anne Arundel Country Public Library Report

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#72

Bookmobile

Bookmobile

Multnomah County Library Report

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#73

Patrons In Bookmobile Line

Patrons In Bookmobile Line

Multnomah County Library Report

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#74

Bookmobile, 1999

Bookmobile, 1999

Providence Public Library Report

#75

Bookmobile

Bookmobile

Multnomah County Library Report