Dunedin Public Libraries’ mobile bookbus has reached 75 years of delivering literature to the wider Dunedin community.
It began in 1950 as an effort to provide library services for the post-war boom of suburban expansion.
"Houses were popping up everywhere in post-war suburbs so I think the idea was a mobile library bus could go to them."
First taking to the road in a refurbished city bus called "Gertie", driver Bruce Coughlan soon became a familiar face to library patrons.
Dunedin Public Libraries mobile and home services team leader Helena Bailey said at a time when there were few suburban branch libraries, the mobile library covered areas such as Mornington, Roslyn, Corstorphine, Kaikorai and Andersons Bay, offering a free service of about 1000 books, primarily for housewives and their children.
Greater Dunedin’s complex geographical configuration of hills and valleys, fewer people owning cars and fewer public transport options all contributed to making the service a success.
Although there was some competition from subscription libraries that people had to pay for at the time, the free bus service was "super popular" from the outset, she said.
As the programme expanded, it became much more than a service for housewives.
Two buses, one diesel and one fully electric, operate 48 hours a week over 40 stops spread across Dunedin suburbs, the Otago Peninsula, Green Island and Brighton.
The bookbuses were more than just a library service, also offering social interaction and a community experience, she said.
"You get this real connection, you see the same people, you see your neighbours, you bump into people you have not seen for a little while."
Some people did not even come to the bus to find a book — instead, they simply enjoyed greeting their regular librarian.
"They will just come in for a chat, talk about the weather, bring me a muffin.
"It’s very social and it’s actually delightful."
• To celebrate the 75th milestone, the bookbus will be participating in Wild Dunedin’s NatureDome fun day at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday, offering some activities for children.
"We are treating that as our birthday day, so we will do rock painting and storytelling and they can build a bus."
