BOOKMOBILE DONATIONS APPROACHING $25,000

Terry Risko would like to see the Cape Girardeau Public Library bookmobile on the road by fall.

"We're about $100,000 short, but we're receiving a lot of favorable reaction and support for the project," said Risko, library director. "Mailings have been sent out to all library-card holders, and we receive a few donations and pledges each week."

Individuals and businesses have pledged $24,512.18 so far toward the purchase of the bookmobile.

"We've had some sizable pledges and some small donations," said Risko. "This project will be financed entirely by private donations and we're hoping that about 80 percent of the donations will be from individuals."

A total of $123,000 is targeted $93,000 for the mobile unit, $15,000 for new books and $15,000 for operating costs for the first two years.

"A lot of people out there may feel that a $10 donation is not of much value," said Risko. "But it is. If 10,000 people send us a $10 bill we've got our bookmobile. We want people to feel like they accomplished this, so they will feel like it's their bookmobile."

"We've had more than 160 donations and pledges to date," said Risko. "Of those donations, no less than 50 have been of $10. Some have been $5. They all add up. We've had donations from $2 to $5,000."

One of the larger donations is that of Zimmer Brothers Broadcasters, said Risko.

"The Zimmers pledged $5,000 to be paid over a three-year period," said Risko. "They have already paid $2,000 on the pledge. Another pledge was by Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau, $3,000, to be paid over a three-year period.

The Oscar C. Hirsch Foundation presented the fund with a cash donation of $2,500. Another supporter pledged $2,400 over a 24-month period. Other sizable donations include $2,000 by LDD Inc., $900 by Capital Bank, $840 by Destock Inc., and $500 by Winifred R. Hirsch.

The fund-raising drive officially kicked off Oct. 12, during the Southeast Missouri State University homecoming parade.

The library is looking into a 30-foot long bookmobile.

"We originally wanted to get into the bookmobile early this year," said Risko. "Now we're looking to fall."

The bookmobile will make regular stops in 30 locations around the city, many of them at schools, said Risko.

"It is an alternative to building branch libraries," he said. "We're looking at about 5,000 books for the mobile unit, with about 40 percent of them being children's books and 60 percent adults books. Information on job skills and literacy programs will also be available on the bookmobile. The collection will be rotated.

The bookmobile will be shaped like a large school bus and will be equipped with a wheelchair lift. It will be linked by computer to the main library's card catalog.