The Richmond Public Library is slated to have a new Bookmobile thanks to a $250,000 grant from the California State Library.
The grant will be used to replace the current Bookmobile, which has been in service since 1993 and is ineligible for registration renewal in January 2023 unless the engine is replaced, according to city documents.
The Bookmobile provides mobile library services to children and families in Richmond, particularly serving preschools, elementary schools and summer lunch sites, the city said.
The $250,000 state grant “will allow the Richmond Public Library to contact with a consultant for the design and procurement of a replacement Bookmobile to continue the tradition of mobile library outreach for the future,” according to the city.
A cash match is required for the grant-awarded project, which will be funded from the Library Impact Fee, officials said.
At its next meeting Tuesday, the Richmond City Council will be asked to accept and appropriate the state grant award, which appears on the meeting’s consent calendar.
