I Am a Mobile Librarian (1960)

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See how Sally Jenkins and her driver, Thomas, run Hertfordshire's mobile library service with military precision.
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[@WheelieMacBin]

I drive a Mobile Library, a dying breed now due to cuts, especially in my part of England. This is a wonderful piece of film that gives an amazing insight into a bygone world.

[@timothysuch3471]

I remember these well. Here in U.S.A. (L.A.) they were known as bookmobiles and it really mattered when they arrived. This was the late 50's to mid-to-late 60's. The way the librarian really did bring books she thought I would like. She was right and taught me more about love of books than any teacher I had. I thank her every day(when I read).

[@sucousins9615]

This was my Mobile Library round in the 1970s operating from Hertford Branch Library. The Mobile Librarian then was Mr Stan Davy and the Driver Mr Albert Smith. I was a Library Assistant and covered the Mobile Library when Mr Davy was unavailable. This was my favourite job. I knew Sally Jenkins - she headed the Bibliographic unit. Some of the "actors" in the Branch Library were my colleagues. The route shown here was no 9. Covering the villages of Dane End, Westmill, Great Hormead, the Hadhams and the Pelhams, the villages mentioned are fictional. The library was stifling hot in Summer and freezing cold in Winter, we carried a shovel to dig us out of the snow. As a female it was necessary to find loo stops as the men could lock the doors and lift a flap on the floor!

[@darrenharte]

Hi Su, I wonder if Sally Jenkins is still with us? I'm a mobile librarian in Cambridgeshire in 2021!

[@neilyoungman9814]

also Benington and Walkern I believe

[@kaugusta1]

So organized! I like how they're able to coordinate locating books that aren't locally available, and without the internet :) Books are such a good entertainment. I can understand the excitement of having "new" ones come by every two weeks.

[@scroggins100]

A snapshot of a lovely country and one I remember with great happiness.

[@marieelena]

love this film...thanks!

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@rsc9520]

Me too !!!

[@JonnyInfinite]

a different world

[@rsc9520]

Brilliant documentary !!!

[@annapoole132]

I remember the bookmobile from the 60s as we lived in the country in the states. It was like Christmas when they came! Times were so different... miss those days!💕

[@davebarrett1949]

Love the look on the lady's face when someone brushes past her! Two instances between 3.18 and 3.30.

[@ormsk954]

I remember it fondly.

[@Merseysiderful]

Only seven years later in the same decade there was flower power, the summer of love, Sgt Peppers Album, psychedelia, mini skirts, hippies etc. 1960 seemed like a different world and era from decades before.

[@TheAdekrijger]

I like thomas his driving hat.

[@ruthmeb]

That's Hertford!

[@gntdriver2840]

I wonder if any mobile libraries still exist in the UK? i dont think ive seen one for at least 15 years.

[@zogworth]

There are a few left but library funding got absolutely obliterated by austerity. In Lincolnshire 30 libraries were closed.

[@william-uk]

There’s loads, but they mostly only visit once a month (though typically stay for an hour, not a ridiculous 20 minutes).

[@darrenharte]

They certainly do thankfully. I drive a mobile library in Cambridgeshire

[@WheelieMacBin]

They do, I drive one :-)

[@william-uk]

Reservation card heading: “Please use Capital Letters” - filled out entirely in lower case.

[@webrarian]

I kept expecting to hear one or more of Joyce Grenfell's characters. I can't help feeling she'd have done a much better job with the commentary. But what a period piece it is. Just a hint of how the suspension would make some borrowers complain about seasickness. The temperature inside on a sunny (or cold) day not even suggested. And cups of coffee which are drinkable and don't need to be emptied over the nearest hedge when no-one is looking. Or "Thomas" pulling up a flap in the floor because he needed a pee - oh, yes - it really happened, but probably not with a young lady librarian on the van. No complaints about having read all the books - of course this was Hertfordshire, one of the exemplary library services of its day.

[@bubbadon7540]

I was a bookmobile librarian from the summer of 1976 until the summer of 1977. It was a dreadful experience, for the most part. My driver was an old retired truck driver who couldn't stay off the sauce. He cussed all the time. The director was a bitch, smoking cigarettes and pontificating from her office daily. When the bookmobile would break down, people would call me and cuss and such. One time, I was learning how to drive the bookmobile and I almost gave the driver a heart attack--slid backward down a hill and his face turned white. When customers returned inside, he told me to get the damn electric pencil sharpener off the floor before somebody knocked the piss out of it.

[@TheLeonhamm]

Aynd thayt, children, is hoyw we won the woh. Pluck .. detemination .. aynd not giving an effing beeing ruddy thought to hoyw things got done, just taking the sauce, puffing Woodbines, drinking tea, aynd pontificating from behynd a desk. ;o) Somethings never change, I guess, even if the lingo and dress-sense do.

[@mozdickson]

Great yarn even if it stretched reality a touch!

[@greenhowie]

Weird how the recent explosion in video making really shows up all the uncomfortable techniques they used back then, everything looks so stilted and forced. Mind you this is still fantastic footage, I'm glad it's preserved.

[@dylwhs]

Couldn't find Danegate village or Overbridge, a couple of places mentioned, not even in Google Maps. Maybe these are made up place names to maintain the people's anonymity.

[@darrenharte]

They are all fictional names. If you look through the comments the real names are there

[@MarcZERO1980]

2:49 'Practacable'

[@neatodd]

Practicable

[@william-uk]

Elderly invalid,

[@nickwalter9630]

They're all a little bit too close together for my liking. Social distancing...please.

[@mikeywestside8509]

Calm down leftist, this is normal

[@JonnyInfinite]

a different world

[@mozdickson]

Say that again Johnny!!!