Bookmobile checking out, casualty of budget cuts

[ Originally published on: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 ]

Over the years, the small community library in Whately has been able to refresh its collection without spending any money because of the regional library system's bookmobile service.

For about the last six decades, bookmobile trucks have transported books and other items to libraries all over western Massachusetts. The libraries could keep the rotating collections for about 11 weeks.

''Our budget and our building do not allow us to grow large and ever-changing collections,'' said Tiffany Hilton, director of Whately's S. White Dickinson Library.

But, the small library will have to go without this service at the beginning of next year as the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System has decided to stop the bookmobile service and the last day will be on Dec. 31.

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