New Mexico State Library’s three bookmobiles, based in Los Lunas, Cimarron, and Tucumcari, will be back on the road with limited services beginning Monday, Sept. 14.

The bookmobiles will support the 2020 Census complete count efforts, as well as provide pickup and drop off services for books ordered online or over the phone.

Following COVID-safe practices, patrons will be unable to browse inside the bookmobiles for the time being, but the dedicated bookmobile staff will be preparing bags of books for no-contact drop-offs at select bookmobile stops. Routes will be limited until it is safe to travel to all counties.

“New Mexico is a very large state, but we believe every New Mexican should have access to library services no matter where they live, and we are thrilled to be able to get books back in the hands of rural residents,” said State Librarian Eli Guinnee.

The bookmobile program has been serving rural communities across New Mexico since 1956. Each bookmobile can carry up to 4,000 books. Between the three bookmobiles, there are more than 4,100 registered library patrons.

For questions regarding updates to bookmobile services and safety procedures, patrons can visit www.nmstatelibrary.org/direct-and-rural-services, or call Bookmobile East at 575-461-1206, Bookmobile Northeast at 575-376-2474, or Bookmobile West at 505-841-5250.

The bookmobiles are funded through capital outlay funds awarded by the New Mexico State Legislature, with ongoing operations funded via the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.