Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and American’s First Bookmobile By Sharlee Glenn

Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and American’s First Bookmobile

By Sharlee Glenn

Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2018

ISBN: 9781419728754

Grades 4 and up

Glenn has written a loving homage to librarians, those dedicated individuals who work hard to guarentee that people in their communities have easy access to materials and services. Mary Lemist Titcomb was such a librarian. Born in 1852, Titcomb, in 1914, served as the second vice president of ALA. It was while working as the director of the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown, Maryland, that Titcomb made her mark. Titcomb knew that over half of the residents, 25,00 people, lived on farms and were not able to get in to the library. “Miss Titcomb was determined that everyone should have access to the library, not just adults, not just the rich or educated, not just those who lived in town.”   

How did she manage this?

•  By opening one of the first children’s rooms in the nation
•  By Providing village schools with rotating collections of good books and pictures from the library
• Going on the road, offering story times in remote areas of the county
•  Setting up over seventy-five deposit stations, like Little Free Libraries, around the county

Yet, Titcomb felt there were still some residents the library was not serving. How to reach them? She came up with the idea of using a horse-drawn “book wagon.” The first book wagon, pulled by two horses, Black Beauty and Dandy, made its maiden voyage in 1905.  It was an immediate success. By 1922, bookmobiles began appearing up in other parts of the country.

Readers learn how Titcomb overcame the prejudices of her time. People told her she couldn’t do this or that. Why? Because she was either too young or a girl. “But Mary never gave up.”  

Supporting Glenn's engaging narrative are many historic photos, some copies of letters and an article about Titcomb. The photos enhance what is being explained in the text. 

Back matter includes an author’s note, source notes, bibliography of materials used for research, and index.

How did Glenn come up with the idea to write about a little known librarian? Glenn explains in her author’s note, "I was doing research for another book when I ran across an obscure reference to a woman named Mary Lemist Titcomb who was credited with the invention of the bookmobile in America. A woman had invented the bookmobile! I was immediately intrigued.”  

Share this book with children, and adults. When I booktalk Library on Wheels is gives me another opportunity to share that a librarians job is more than sitting around reading all day.  

In addition...I loved the book because I have always wanted to work on a bookmobile. 

To write this review, I borrowed a copy of this book from my local public library.

The Man Who Loved Libraries: the Story of Andrew Carnegie by Andrew Larsen

The Man Who Loved Libraries: the Story of Andrew Carnegie

Story by Andrew Larsen; Pictures by Katty Maurey

OwlKids Books. 2017

ISBN: 9781771472678

Grades 3 and up

Please Note: While Cathy is on Sabbatical, Louise is writing all the reviews. Cathy will return February, 2018.

“Andrew Carnegie built over 2,500 public libraries. He built them in cities, towns, and villages in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He built them in Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand.” 

Born in Scotland in 1835, Andrew Carnegie family was poor. His father was a weaver, but was unable to compete with the fabrics being woven cheaper in mills. His family, hoping for a better life immigrated to American in 1848. The family settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to be close to Andrew’s mother’s sister.  His first job was that of a bobbin boy in a mill, but the industrious, hardworking lad soon found another job, a messenger boy. “In his spare time, he learned to operate the telegraph equipment.” 

At age 17, Andrew became a telegraph operator with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He thought outside the box, suggesting the telegraph office stay open twenty-four hours a day. In eight years, Andrew was one of the bosses. With the money he earned he invested in the railroad and other companies that produced oil, iron, and steel. By age thirty-five he was a very rich man.

As a young man, Carnegie always knew that learning was the key to his future.” He loved books and made time to read them. After he became rich, he wanted to build libraries so that others, regardless of their income, could have free access to books. In 1891, Carnegie Hall in New York City opened its doors, and still continues to  welcome some of the world’s greatest performers. 

Larsen’s picture book biography keeps a positive tone while offering just the right amount of information about Carnegie’s passion for learning. Maurey’s illustrations reflect what is discussed in the text. 

Back matter includes a brief bibliography. In the author’s note, Larsen does mention that Carnegie, though generous with giving back to the community, was also a ruthless businessman. In 1892, his steel company, The Carnegie Steel Company, crushed the steel workers’ union. 

As someone who will forever be grateful to my high school librarian for opening up my eyes to how libraries can change the world, this is a timely celebration of the man and the importance of public libraries.

Is there a Carnegie library in your community?

To write this review, OwlKids Books sent me a copy of the book. 

My Librarian is a Camel by Margriet Ruurs

My Librarian is a Camel: how books are brought to children around the world

By Margriet Ruurs

Boyds Mills Press. 2015

ISBN: 9781590780930

Grades K-12

I went into my local public library and borrowed a copy of this book.

In My Librarian is a Camel, author Margriet Ruurs contacted librarians around the world and asked them to share their stories about their efforts to connect books with people. Whether it is at a refugee camp or a street corner, these mobile libraries are often the only way books can be transported. 

When we think of a library, we picture a building on a street or perhaps a room in a school. Some move from place to place in the most remarkable of ways: by bus, by boat, by elephant, by donkey, by train, even by wheelbarrow.

From Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, we learn just how inventive librarians will go to be sure everyone has books. In England, the Blackpool Beach Library brings books to folks who are enjoying their summer holidays at the beach using a wheelbarrow. One librarian states, “Libraries are services, not buildings.” These librarians are passionate and believe that, as one librarian states, “the mobile library is as important as air or water.”

Organized alphabetically by country, each two-page spread gives a brief explanation on how books are transported and includes color photos taken by the librarians in that country showing children laughing and enjoying books! In addition, an insert with map displays where the country is located, its flag, name of the capital, estimated population and country facts.

My Librarian is a Camel is a wonderful book to share with students studying other cultures. Pair it with Material World by Peter Menzel.

Watch the book trailer.

Hands Around the Library

Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books
by Susan L. Roth and Karen Leggett Abouraya
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN: 9780803737471
Grades 2-5

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.


The beginning of the school year is a great time to share books about the importance of books and libraries.  A new nonfiction picture book by Dial Books would make an excellent read aloud to stimulate discussions with children about the importance of books and libraries to our society.

In January 2011, when protesters took to the streets of Egypt and started an uprising against the government, librarians at the Alexandra Library were concerned.  Would protestors harm the library? Susan L. Roth and Karenn Leggett Abouraya capture the emotion of the events in Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books. The narrative is written in the first-person from the point of view of a librarian taking part in the protests.

"In other parts of our city some of the protestors had acted in anger. They had set fire to cars and to a police station. As we marched toward the library, I grew worried. What if they tried to burn it down?"

Alexandria has a rich, library history. Ptolemy used the Alexandria library to collect knowledge from around the world until it was destroyed by fire in 48 B.C. The modern library of Alexandria is a huge, modern building made of eleven floors in the shape of a circle which "represents the sun shining on the world."

As protestors made their way through the streets of Alexandria, library director Dr. Ismail Serageldin persuaded citizens to protect the library by joining hands in front of the library. Roth's paper and fabric collages are an ideal medium for relating a serious story to young readers. A two-page spread shows the the protestors from behind as they stand outside the Alexandria library. On some pages, Roth frames smaller illustrations to look like a series of photographs. My favorite page-turn in the book is when the library director is holding hands with people in front of the library. The next two-page spread uses paper and cloth to illustrate hands holding the red, white and black flag of Egypt.

Readers will be interested in the photographs in the back of the book that show the Alexandia Library with a human chain protecting it from harm. One photograph shows the oversized Egyptian flag being held in the streets in front of the library.

Back matter includes information about the ancient library of Alexandria and Alexandria's modern library. A note from Susan L. Roth describes how she became interested in the Alexandria Library after her friend (and co-author), Karen Leggett Abouraya, married a man from Egypt. Roth visited the Alexandra Library in 2009.

Picture books are an excellent way to relate heavy subjects to students in a manner they will understand, and there are many powerful messages that young readers may take away from this story.

"Children cannot grow up supporting angry borders if they are taught, from the time they are born, to love books and to hold hands around the world." Susan L. Roth

Pair this book with The Librarian of Basra by Jeannette Winter.

Visit Susan Roth's web site to view illustrations from the book:
http://susanlroth.com/hands-around-library.htm.

The Hands Around the Library web site contains photographs of the Alexandria Library and discussion questions for teachers and librarians. handsaroundthelibrary.com/