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County explores new bookmobile options; staff recommends smaller, easier-to-operate vehicle
Summary
After years offline, the county’s bookmobile service returned in 2025. Staff presented two replacement models for board discussion: a larger 24‑ft browsable unit (M2) and a smaller F‑series platform optimized for deliveries and rough roads; supervisors asked staff to test service scenarios for rural stops before budget decisions.
Coconino County Library staff briefed the board on options to replace the county’s aging bookmobile and asked supervisors for direction ahead of the fiscal‑year budget process.
Why it matters: The county’s bookmobile serves remote communities and residents who lack easy access to a branch library. The existing vehicle is about 20 years old and requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL); staff presented replacement options that do not require a CDL to operate.
Library staff described two service models: a larger, 24‑foot M2 vehicle with a browseable collection closer to the current bookmobile experience, and a smaller F‑series vehicle (F‑550/F‑600 platform) with a smaller onboard collection but easier operation, robust off‑road capability and lower purchase and maintenance costs (the smaller platform estimated near $400,000; the M2 option roughly $550,000). Staff emphasized tradeoffs: the larger vehicle offers a fuller browsing experience that many users expect, while the smaller vehicle would be more maneuverable and may expand access to routes that present operating constraints.
Supervisors asked whether there are stops that require four‑wheel drive and whether routes could be expanded with the smaller vehicle; staff said current service routes do not consistently require 4x4, and recommended further analysis of where smaller‑vehicle access could add service. Library staff also noted the existing large bus had required extensive repairs and that a modern replacement is needed to restore reliable service.
What’s next: Library staff will refine service scenarios, map potential new stops possible with a smaller, more maneuverable vehicle, and return to the board as part of the upcoming FY2026 budget presentation on May 13. Staff emphasized community input and the practical limits of winter or inclement‑weather operation.
Ending: Supervisors expressed support for restoring dependable bookmobile service and asked staff to provide route‑level cost and coverage comparisons for both options before final budget decisions.
