Historical Marker

Old County Bookmobile, First "Inside Service" Bookmobile in Texas

Historical marker location:
501 Elsie, Panhandle, Texas
( 5th and Elsie Street (fronting Elsie), SH 207, at Square House Museum, Panhandle)
Marker installed: 1966

In use 1938-1957. Based at the county library on this site. A bright red, visible for miles, this first bookmobile in Texas was called "The Library Bus." It stopped at ranches, schools, oil camps; circulated 2,000 books a month; served in era of sparse settlement, World War II growth and later industrialization. There were private and rental libraries in early Texas; the Republic had a National Library, but most county libraries were founded or instigated by local citizens- -as was this pioneer bookmobile. Texas still has 51 bookmobiles in other counties.