The New Mexico State Library’s Rural Bookmobile is a mobile library designed to service the rural areas of New Mexico. Its last service date in Questa will be September 12 of this year.

The Bookmobile works the same as a brick and mortar library: Patrons get a library card, they can request books, and borrow them for a service period of about a month. The Bookmobile program has been servicing the Northern New Mexico area since 1958.

Laura Gonzales, the main librarian of this mobile library, expresses sadness upon informing patrons that the mobile library’s days are numbered in Questa. This is because the federal grant that funds the Bookmobile program stipulates that the Bookmobile cannot operate in the same areas as established library service areas.

Tammy Arvila, a longtime patron of the Bookmobile in Questa, hands Laura a vase filled with flowers. “The Bookmobile team has done an excellent job. They are faithful and accommodating. I am sad to see them go.”

Tammy drives from Sunshine Valley to borrow books from the ever changing shelves of the Bookmobile. “I have read just about everything the Questa library has that interests me,” she says as she hauls an armload of books back to her truck.

The Questa Public Library has recently undergone a large expansion, but it can’t stock the raw amount of books that would be available from the state through the mobile library.

Questa Public Library welcomes Bookmobile patrons.