Our Purpose

The Nelson County Public Library Bookmobile and Outreach Services provides personalized, comprehensive library service to people who may have difficulty visiting their community library. This service includes Bookmobile stops or delivery for the homebound, senior citizens, individuals with physical limitations, care facilities, schools, daycares, neighborhoods, and private and group residences. Special Pop-Up libraries will be featured at public venues, local businesses, senior living facilities, schools, etc. Our Mailbox Books program is another way to provide library materials to community members. This service is for those with limited mobility whose locations don’t necessarily fit with delivery or Bookmobile models of service.

Bookmobile and Outreach Services Policies

The scheduling of stops and the method of service is based on these factors:

• Mobility of patron
• Distance from a community library
• Service needs
• Scheduling availability

Sometimes circumstances beyond our control (such as weather conditions, mechanical issues, etc.) occur which causes earlier arrivals, delays, or cancellations.  Patrons are contacted via phone call or text as necessary. Patrons are asked to extend the same courtesy when they will be unavailable at their scheduled day and time by calling or texting (502) 507-4005 as soon as possible.

A schedule of Bookmobile routes and stops is published twice a year and updated as needed.  The schedule is posted on the Bookmobile, on the website, in the Nelson County Library, and on the Nelson County Public Library’s Facebook page. Additionally, a schedule postcard is mailed at least once per year to existing patrons.  A scheduled stop may be discontinued due to low use, patron failure to attend (or notify staff), safety considerations, or violations of library policies. 

About the Bookmobile

The Bookmobile is a library on wheels! Nelson County residents may board the truck to choose materials for check-out. We offer children’s picture books, fiction and nonfiction books for children, teens, and adults (including large print), magazines, audiobooks, DVDs, Wi-Fi, Kindle e-readers, and Overdrive assistance (e-book and audiobook downloads).

New patrons may apply for and receive a library card on the Bookmobile.  Patrons are also able to request materials to be brought to them at their next scheduled visit by utilizing our website www.ncplky.org (please indicate “Bookmobile” as location), email (dzurkuhlen@ncplky.org or ahamilton@ncplky.org, phone call, or text – office: (502) 348-3714, cell: (502) 507-4005 (calls or texts to staff personal cellphones are no longer accepted). Requests should be placed a minimum of two days before the scheduled visit. If requests aren’t received with a two-day minimum, materials may not be available until the next scheduled visit.

About Delivery Service

We are pleased to offer delivery service to patrons with limited mobility who have difficulty traveling to their local library.  Patrons may request materials by utilizing our website www.ncplky.org (please indicate “Bookmobile” as location), email (dzurkuhlen@ncplky.org or ahamilton@ncplky.org, phone call, or text – office: (502) 348-3714, cell: (502) 507-4005 (calls or texts to staff personal cellphones are no longer accepted). Requests should be placed a minimum of two days before the scheduled visit. If requests aren’t received with a two-day minimum, materials may not be available until the next scheduled visit. Patrons may also use the services of knowledgeable outreach librarians to select materials based on interests, past reading history, requests, etc.

About Pop-Up Libraries

Pop-Up Libraries are just that! We pop up a selection of materials, based on the event or the location, on a table top and provide limited library services.  Patrons can check materials out, receive instruction for downloading materials, enjoy free Wi-fi, etc.  Materials may be returned to any branch location or to the Pop-Up if it is held at an established, recurring location.

Circulation Policies and Procedures

• Items checked out on the Bookmobile, via delivery, or other outreach method may be kept for two weeks or until the next return visit to that location.
• Items may be returned to the Bookmobile, public/original outreach method, or any library branch in Nelson County.
• In order to accommodate the limited mobility of many of our Bookmobile and Outreach patrons, no overdue fines are charged and checked-out materials will be renewed.
• Items are considered lost when they become eight weeks overdue. Lost or damaged items will incur a replacement cost. Please note-the Bookmobile and Outreach Librarians do not carry cash.Payment in exact form can be accepted but change will not be available.
• Patrons should make every effort to return materials in a timely manner. As a courtesy, library staff will contact patrons after two renewals to make arrangements for the return of materials.

About Mailbox Books

An additional option for delivery of library materials to qualifying patrons is via postal mail.  Mailbox Books is available to library cardholders in the Nelson County Public Library service area who are unable to travel to a library. The materials are delivered by the U.S. Postal Service and placed in patron mailboxes.  They are returned to the library at no charge to the patron.  When finished with the material, patrons will simply place them back into the shipping pouch, flip the address card over, and place the package in their mailbox.  All materials are to be returned every two weeks which will coincide with the new delivery being mailed so that patrons would receive a second shipment shortly after the first so they would have a supply of library materials while the first shipment is being returned. Items not returned can be renewed only if it isn’t borrowed from another library (Interlibrary Loan) or it isn’t reserved for another patron.

Qualifying patrons are those who meet any of the following criteria:

• Have a permanent or temporary disability or medical condition that prevents them from visiting a library.
• Resides in a nursing care or assisted living facility permanently or temporarily.
• Has a visual impairment.
• Has other health conditions that make them unable to visit the library.