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Irondale City council approves application for IMLS bookmobile grant
Summary
The council unanimously approved Resolution 2026 R69 authorizing Mayor James Deer Stewart Jr. to apply for a $150,000 Institute of Museum and Library Services national leadership grant for a bookmobile; the award would require a $150,000 city match to be budgeted in FY26 and, if granted, the vehicle could be in service in about two years.
Irondale City Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2026 R69, authorizing Mayor James Deer Stewart Jr. to apply for a $150,000 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) national leadership grant to help purchase a bookmobile for the Irondale Connect program.
Mayor James Deer Stewart Jr. told the council he was "very excited about being able to apply for this grant," and said the vehicle the city is pursuing would cost about $300,000 and is built on a Sprinter-van chassis by a company recommended for conversions. The IMLS award would be a 1-to-1 match of $150,000; the mayor said the city must show willingness to budget the other $150,000 in its FY26 capital budget under the library.
The mayor outlined a timeline and funding approach: the application deadline is March 13, award announcements are expected in September, and construction typically takes 12 to 18 months—meaning the city would likely gain access to the vehicle in roughly two years. "We will be able to tap into several different resources to be able to get the additional funding that is needed," the mayor said, adding he expected the net cost impact to the city would be minimal if those resources are secured.
City officials framed the bookmobile as an equity and access initiative. The mayor said the vehicle would be ADA-compliant, include a Spanish-language component to serve an estimated 10% Hispanic population, and visit underserved neighborhoods including Irondale Mobile Park and Eastwood Hills. He also cited digital-inclusion goals, saying about 18–20% of residents lack broadband access.
Council members expressed support during the meeting. One council member said, "I think this is fantastic," another said it would "put our knowledge on a roll," and another called it "a great addition" to library services.
The council then approved the resolution by voice vote; the meeting record shows members answering "Aye." The council also approved the form of the agenda earlier in the session and adjourned after the vote.
If the grant is awarded in September as expected, the next steps include budgeting the FY26 match under the library capital budget and proceeding with vehicle construction; the mayor estimated total time to service at about two years from the approval date.
