Mount Joy, PA, October 2004--Thanks to a funds grant under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), provided through the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Libraries, the Milanof-Schock Library is bringing the library to the homebound in the area encompassed by the Donegal School District. The grant has enabled implementation of the “Reads on Wheels” program by the library. The library acquired and refurbished a used van that now makes regular visits to homebound in both communal assisted living facilities and in individual homes. The library staff and volunteer “visitors” deliver large print books, spoken books on tape and CD and movie videos. Homebound visitors will also provide basic computer instruction to the homebound to enable them to access the library’s new Seniors Website with links to the library’s online catalog as well as important government and private homepages of interest to seniors.

Reads on Wheels is a free service that will be provided through June 2005 at least with LSTA funding. The Milanof-Schock Library would like to continue the service beyond that date if funding can be found. To receive Reads on Wheels visits, an individual or institution need only request it. The library will then develop a reader profile so that only library materials of interest to the individual are delivered. The library even provides current library cards for those who need them. The library has asked Lancaster Meals on Wheels and various church and community agencies to assist in identifying candidates who could benefit from Reads on Wheels. Each Reads on Wheels participant is visited every two weeks, the normal loan period for library books. The normal loan period of one week for videos has been extended to two weeks for the homebound. 

In addition to individuals, Reads on Wheels currently serves two assisted living facilities in the Donegal area, Longwood Manor and Hearthstone Manor. Residents and activities directors request fiction and non-fiction books, audio books and films. Classics and cartoons are popular. At Longwood Manor a retired teacher has a standing request for children’s “easy reader” books that she is using to teach another resident how to read.

Milanof-Schock Library Director Herb Landau says “Any doubts that I might have had about the need for the Reads on Wheels service disappeared when I recently made a first delivery of books to a 77 year old Mount Joy Borough woman who had been homebound for years as the result of a heart attack and several strokes. When I presented her with a shiny new library card and two weeks worth of mystery novels, she grasped my hand and with tears in her eyes said, “Bless you and the library for helping me”.

The Milanof-Schock Library is the public library for East Donegal Township, Marietta Borough, Mount Joy Borough, Mount Joy Township (East) and Rapho Township (South). Anyone living in this area who is interested in receiving Reads on Wheels service can contact the library at 653-1510 or landau@mountjoy.lib.pa.us.

Thelma Taylor, 97 year old retired mathematics teacher and homebound delivery recipient, was delighted to get her first Library System of Lancaster County Library card.  Thelma has waited for years for a homebound delivery service and is pleased that it has finally come to fruition!