Commissioners press municipalities to clarify contributions as bookmobile stops and schedule are reviewed

Bridal Lund, Bookmobile Program Manager for the Utah State Library, presented circulation statistics, patron counts by stop and a multi‑year contract summary for Utah County’s bookmobile service. She said the program recently completed an inventory, migrated to a new integrated library system, and experienced lost service weeks due to an engine failure that has since been repaired.

Lund described growing digital circulation via OverDrive and 1Click, which has helped offset some declines in physical checkouts. The bookmobile contract has been largely steady; Lund said the state absorbed small cost increases and the county’s share has remained stable while city partners vary in contributions and in‑kind support (examples: Alpine provides space and internet). She said the service also covers a Sanpete County stop under a separate arrangement paid by Sanpete County.

Commissioners pressed Lund and county staff on which municipalities were not contributing for services in unincorporated areas (examples discussed included Linden, Cedar Hills, Cedar Fort, Goshen, Genoa, Alberta and others). Commissioners suggested the county could reduce or reallocate stops if cities refuse to pay; Lund said she would inform mayors about upcoming MOA decisions and that the state library could continue service for a short period while the county decides.

The commission asked staff to identify non‑paying municipalities and return with options, including revised stop schedules and dollar estimates of cost‑to‑serve specific areas. Lund offered to contact local mayors to inform them of funding choices and consequences if contributions are not secured.