Title supplied by cataloger. As early as 1949 these bookmobiles, or "libraries on wheels", began taking books to the mostly disadvantaged, low-income areas, or the outlying sections of the city where community libraries had not been established. The Los Angeles Public Library's fleet of bookmobiles was comprised of 3 large vans usually loaded with 4,000 books, and a smaller one known as "Little Toot" that usually carried 3,000 books. They had 28 scheduled stops each week to such places as housing developments, shopping centers, parks, and schools that varied anywhere from an hour to three hours. It is estimated that these Traveling Branches circulated almost 250,000 volumes a year. Front view of a Los Angeles Public Library Bookmobile seen decorated for the Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade. A dragon and lantern hang from the passenger's side mirror. A banner in Chinese which reads, 'Gōng hè xīn xǐ,' covers the "Biblioteca Ambulante" writing at the front of the bookmobile. Several people can be seen inside looking through shelves of books, and Cheryl Pikes is shown waving at the photographer. Bert Thomas is the bookmobile's driver.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Los Angeles Public Library Decoration and ornament--Animal forms--California--Los Angeles Trucks--Decoration--California--Los Angeles Decoration and ornament--Chinese influences Bookmobiles--California--Los Angeles Libraries--California--Los Angeles
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