Taking Care of Loanie: More Than Just Books on Wheels

Submitted by Joanie Goforth

Ever wonder just what it takes to keep our big, beautiful bookmobile up and running and looking sleek and shiny? Bringing library services to our community involves much more than simply driving books from place to place. We take great pride in all the work we do to keep the bookmobile running smoothly and performing her best. Our checklist incorporates regular maintenance tasks like checking the engine oil, performing air brake tests, maintaining a log of generator hours and checking the generator oil, as well as keeping tabs on fluid levels like fuel, transmission fluid, DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid), and battery water. We tackle these tasks weekly, but our fearless Facilities department helps us out immensely too–from cleaning out the dirt and mess that inevitably gets tracked inside to making sure patrons and staff are safe accessing the bookmobile. 

We also send Loanie for a “spa day” every 6–8 weeks where she gets cleaned and beautified by the folks at Mr. Bubblis, a local car wash that accommodates large vehicles like campers and RVs. There are, however, certain things that lie beyond the scope of our somewhat limited vehicle know-how. In these moments we call on the invaluable expertise of the county’s Fleet Maintenance facility and staff to assist.

Over the winter, Fleet staff got the bookmobile ready for the colder temperatures by performing an annual winterization routine. More recently, Loanie’s generator needed attention and the wiper blades needed to be changed, so off she went to her appointment with Fleet! They were able to quickly identify and fix a broken fuse and get her outfitted with new wiper blades.

Environmental regulations are an important consideration, and under EPA requirements, diesel trucks manufactured since 2010 must use Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in their exhaust systems. DEF helps break down harmful emissions into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. Our county's Fleet Maintenance professionals handle this crucial maintenance task for us, ensuring Loanie stays compliant and maintains her Clean Air Idle Certification. This certification is particularly important for a bookmobile, because although our generator typically runs our A/C system, we might keep the engine running while parked at community stops to power the A/C system from time to time.

We are grateful for our partnerships with local businesses like Mr. Bubblis, our county's Fleet Maintenance team, and our own FCPL staff whose expertise helps us maintain this special vehicle to the highest standards. Because at the end of the day, that's what it's all about—ensuring our mobile library services remain accessible to everyone in our community, no matter where they live.