The ribbon cutting ceremony for the relaunch of the Kern County Library Bookmobile, February 20, 2025 at Greenacres Park.
The Kern County Library celebrated the relaunch of their bookmobile services on February 20, after years of a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bookmobile goal is to provide library access to rural and underserved communities. The bookmobile was funded by Measure K.
The bookmobile will visit various rural areas, schools, and parks including Lost Hills, Glenville, and Hart Park, as well as making stops at Green Acres Park on Wednesday mornings and Polo Community Park on Saturday afternoons.
It functions as a library branch on wheels, offering books, audiovisual materials, public Wi-Fi, and printing services.
“The Bookmobile is more than just a library on wheels. It is a testament to our commitment to making knowledge accessible to all, regardless of where you live,” said Andie Sullivan, Kern County Library’s Library Director.
Storytime sessions will be conducted every Saturday at the designated parks and library cards can be issued to adults and children, with applications processed for minors.
Partnerships with the local organization, North of the River Recreation and Park District, helped to expand the program’s reach.
“This partnership is more than just books. It’s about access—access to knowledge, to opportunities, and to safe, welcoming spaces where everyone can grow,” said Jasmin LoBasso, Director of Community Relations for North of the River Recreation and Park District. “Parks bring people together, helping us stay active and build lifelong connections, while libraries open doors to learning, imagination, and opportunity.”
Originally launched in 1915 with a converted Model T, the current bookmobile was purchased in 2011 using USDA funds and features built-in shelving, accessibility ramps, and a generator for powering laptops and other technology.
Shalyn Pineda, Kern County Library’s Assistant Director, said the library is excited to show off their brand-new collection of library materials as well as some new pop-up equipment to make their park stops more cozy for families and the community.
“I can already picture it—a family spending a quiet morning at the park, a teen playing a game of pickup basketball, a grandparent watching their grandchild at a soccer game—now with the added joy of stopping by the bookmobile, picking up a new book, discovering a new author, or finding resources for lifelong learning,” said Pineda.
Ana Medel, Library Associate for the Kern County Library, is one of the staff members operating the Kern County Library Bookmobile. She will be driving the bookmobile to different locations, helping to provide essential library services to rural communities.
Medel mentioned that during one of the stops they visited a homemade library set up in a small shed, which operated on an honor system and housed a large collection of books for that community.
“Even without the bookmobile, they were doing what they needed to do to provide books, and we’re really just adding on to what they need,” said Medel.
Students in the Kern County Library Bookmobile at Greenacres Park, Bakersfield, CA.
The bookmobile weekly schedule:
Tuesday – Lost Hills
•Wonderful Prep. Academy: 9:30 – 11:30 A.M.
•Lost Hills Elementary: 12:30 – 2:30 P.M.
Wednesday – Edison/Rosedale
•Greenacres Park: 9:00 – 10:30 A.M.
•Edison Middle School: 11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
•Orangewood Elementary: 2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Thursday – Twin Oaks/Greenfield
•Piute Mountain School: 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
•Schoolhouse Grill: 10:30 – 11:30 A.M.
•Greenfield Park: 2:00 – 3:30 P.M.
Friday – Glennville/Woody
•Linns Valley Elementary: 9:30 – 10:30 A.M.
•Mt. Carmel Church: 11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
•Blake Elementary: 1:00 – 2:30 P.M.
Saturday – Bakersfield
•Panorama Park: 9:00 – 10:30 A.M.
•Hart Park: 11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
•Polo Park: 2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
