FALL RIVER — Delivery will likely not come until the end of summer or early fall, but a brand-new bookmobile for the Fall River Public Library is currently under construction thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

It will be 25 feet long and have state-of-the-art features. It is an initiative of Mayor Paul Coogan and the $219,481 price tag is being funded through Community Development Block Grant ARPA money. 

“When we lost our South End library grant, we had to find a way to get services down to the South End. And the bookmobile will give us the flexibility to go to the Flint, the parks like North Park or anywhere in the city,” said Coogan. “It’s also going to allow us to partner with the School Department. We can bring resources and assignments to the kids. Maybe if they’re getting lunch in the parks in the summer, they can grab a book or grab an assignment.” 

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Coogan said he also foresees the new bookmobile as accommodating adult users and will be available for visits to the city’s high-rises for the elderly and at senior centers. 

“This is a good endeavor,” said Coogan. 

Community Development Agency Executive Director Michael Dion said the new bookmobile is currently being constructed by Farber Specialty Vehicles located in Ohio. 

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“There are going to be a lot of neat things with the new bookmobile. It will be handicapped-accessible with a lift on the back and a pull-out awning with a significant big-screen television on the outside of the unit to show movies," said Dion. 

It will be able accommodate from 2,000 to 3,000 books in the oak shelving, and a computer system, on-board WiFi and wireless microphones are just some of the “neat” features, said Dion. 

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Using ARPA funds to build and purchase the bookmobile was given the nod from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, which provided the funding to the CDA. 

“HUD said they thought it was the perfect use of the funding. While COVID has affected children physically, it has also affected their and their family's mental health, and it's especially true with school-age children,” said Dion. 

Liane Verville, director of the Fall River Public Library, said she’s thrilled with what will be the library’s newest service. 

“With having to actually close two library branches, this is one way of reaching out to the community, which we wouldn’t be able to otherwise,” said Verville. 

The library's South Branch on Arch Street closed its doors for good in December 2020, and the East Branch Library on Pleasant Street shuttered its tiny facility in the summer of 2015. 

Jo C. Goode may be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!