Bookmobile returns to the Phoenix VA
By Stephen Woolverton, Public Affairs Specialist
The Phoenix Public Library Bookmobile made its monthly stop at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center on Nov. 4 with books of all shapes, sizes, and genres for Phoenix VA Health Care System Veterans, family members, and staff.
The Bookmobile has been making regular stops here for five months now, and every time it brings books and creates smiles.
Allison Sinclair, a U.S. Navy Veteran and a Phoenix VA staff member, came to get a library card and left with a book to read.
“I have never had a library card here in Arizona,” said Sinclair. “I’ve been here since ’93 and don’t have a card. All I read is non-fiction, and I found a New York Times best seller.”
The staff from the Phoenix Public Library are always glad to come and help Veterans and staff find the books they want, whether it is to learn more about a subject of interest, or simply to borrow a good book to read at home after a long day. They can even help you get your very own Phoenix Public Library Card, so you can keep coming back for more.
Melodie Moore, a Librarian with the Phoenix Public Library, enjoys coming to the VA every month and hopes the Veterans and staff here have a great experience at the bookmobile.
“My understanding is the Veterans are coming here from various parts of the Valley,” said Moore. “When they come here, they can borrow a book, and they will just see us next month or the month after.”
The bookmobile has a very lenient return policy, according to Moore. They normally check out books for three weeks, but considering the bookmobile only comes once per month, they can borrow the book and return a month later, or the next month after that.
In addition to a lot of books, they also have Culture Passes, which include two free tickets to Arizona Museums like the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, and much more from Flagstaff down to Tucson. Borrowers can check out tickets for two for a day to a museum, but they use the passes within seven days of checking out the tickets. They also recommend contacting the museum before going.
If it is only books you want, Moore said they keep many genres in the bookmobile to check out.
“I have a lot of people who want history biographies,” said Moore. “Biographies about Presidents. We also have requests for books in Spanish, which we carry.”
The Bookmobile visits the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, at the Ambulatory Care Center South, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. the 1st Tuesday of the month.