A Day in the Life on the Bookmobile with Sarah Miller-Jacobs

This article originally appeared in the November 2024 edition of The Windshield, which is the Iowa City Public Library Bookmobile newsletter. 

Ever wondered what it’s like to work on the Iowa City Public Library Bookmobile?

Sarah Miller-Jacobs, Community Assistant, gives us a peek into her day-to-day experience, sharing stories about the rewarding connections she makes and the unique opportunities the Bookmobile offers to patrons in the community.

Can you describe a typical day working on the Bookmobile?
A typical workday on the Bookmobile starts with arriving to cart all our NEW! books and holds down to the Bookmobile!  We have a busy Tuesday morning shift with stops at SideKick Coffe, Melrose Meadows,  Oaknoll Retirement Community and the UI College of Medicine.  We are utilized by mulitple patrons at all stops with at least 1 patron thanking us for all we do on the Bookmobile, if not more.  It's a very rewarding morning!

How has your experience on the Bookmobile influenced your perspective on library services?
My experience on the Bookmobile has enabled me to see how patrons continue to seek us out; once you find your love of a library, you look for all the ways libraries serve you and your community.  We have patron power users of the Bookmobile who will hunt us down to find a book they have been waiting to read.

Reflecting on your interactions with the community, can you share a memorable experience or story that stands out from your time on the Bookmobile?
The Bookmobile attended FryFest this last Summer and it was a great party.  I noticed that most of the patrons popping in to escape the heat were from out-of-town.  We took that opportunity to let people know that you can have a card with the ICPL, even if you don't live locally in Iowa City area.  We told many folks, seven of whom said, "Yes!  I'd like a card!"  We promoted Open Access services to Iowa residents.  It was a great point of making sure that Iowa residents knew how to use their libraries and how to do so in new ways.  Several families said they travel to Iowa City regularly enough that they would use their cards while visiting.

What do you find most rewarding about your role on the Bookmobile?
I find that the most rewarding part of serving on the Bookmobile is not just one thing.  It's meeting patrons that happen upon us in a new location that are so excited to see us in a new location.  It's finding that one kid that is remarkably shy but leads their siblings after school to select books on the Bookmobile stop near their home.  It's helping people onto the Bookmobile using our lift, providing accessibility to those who want select books themselves.  It's telling the person who didn't have WiFi at home this month that, "YES! We have WiFi!  Step onboard so you can download that document you need!"