74-Foot 'Digital Bookmobile' to Hit Mahwah on National Tour

The Digital Bookmobile is coming to town.

On Monday, September 16, the Mahwah Public Library will play host to a 74-foot-long tractor-trailer that will act as a kickoff to its eBook Extravaganza.

The bookmobile, a converted 18-wheeler that tours the country, will stop in Mahwah to teach visitors about how to use eBooks through hands-on demonstrations, the library announced in a recent release.

The trailer, operated by OverDrive, comes equipped with a “gadget gallery” that includes a Kindle, iPod touch, Android tablet, Nook, Sony Reader, Blackberry, and Windows phone, which are all compatible with the library’s eBook system.

Visitors can use the Bookmobile’s gadgets, or bring their own, to get one-on-one lessons on how to borrow eBooks and audio books from the library.

The Digital Bookmobile will be parked in front of the library from noon to 6 p.m. Librarians say they have events planned for the whole family throughout the day, including visits with the e-reader doctor, a bookmobile tour and craft session for kids, a digital storytime, teen read-a-ton, and refreshments.

“The digital bookmobile really highlights the robust eBook services we now offer to Mahwah residents,” Library Director Kurt Hadeler said in the release.

And, it's a site not too often seen in the area.

“The last time this bookmobile was in the area was back in 2009 at the Paramus Public Library,” Mahwah’s Supervising Librarian Allison Moonitz said. “So, we're very excited that we get the opportunity to host it.”

OverDrive, the company that provides ebooks to public libraries, brings the bookmobile across the country in an attempt to spread awareness about digital library collections. Its stop in Mahwah is one of just three planned stops in NJ this fall. See the full schedule here.

For more information about its stop in Mahwah, call the library at 201-529-7323.