BOOKMOBILE DRIVE AT CAPE PUBLIC LIBRARY $13,000 TOWARD GOAL

Individuals and businesses have pledged about $13,000 so far toward the purchase of a book mobile for the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

And though that's $110,000 short of what the book mobile will cost, Library Director Terry Risko said the fund-raising campaign is off to a good start.

"Considering the mass mailings haven't gone out yet, I think we've been doing really well," Risko said. "The people and businesses we've contacted have responded favorably."

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

The book mobile will be financed entirely by private donations, Risko said. A total of $123,000 is targeted; $93,000 for the mobile itself, $15,000 for new books and $15,000 for operating costs.

A brochure will be mailed to all library card holders around Nov. 20, asking for their support, Risko said. It's all part of a plan to get as many people involved in the project as possible, he said.

"We're hoping that about 80 percent of the donations will be from individuals," he said.

"We want people to feel like they accomplished this, so they will feel like it's their book mobile," he said.

One supporter promised to contribute $2,400 over the course of 24 months, Risko said. "She's already made her first payment," he said.

The fund-raising drive kicked off about three weeks ago. If enough pledges have been gathered by the end of December, Risko said the library could make a down-payment on the mobile.

It will be the first book mobile for the Cape Girardeau library, and will be used as an outreach tool. It will make regular stops in 30 locations around the city, many at schools.

Risko said because of a lack of public transportation in Cape Girardeau, some children find it hard to get to the library.

The book mobile is an alternative to building branch libraries, which would cost much more, he said.

About 5,000 books would be purchased for the mobile, and the collection would be changed about every two weeks.

It will contain about 40 percent children's books and 60 percent adult books. The collection will be rotated. Information on job skills and literacy programs will also be available on the book mobile.

The book mobile 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.