After discussions about exchange options in April and a tax rate increase for the library district in June, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved the acquisition of a new Bookmobile during their meeting on September 23rd.

The purchase from Farber Specialty Vehicles, under the Omnia Partners agreement, is capped at $525,138.76. This figure is slightly below the anticipated cost of around $550,000, and the board opted for the larger M2 model.

The M2 model provides 198-216 square feet of shelf space and is expected to accommodate 1,980-2,160 items, depending on whether it features one or two entrances. At 24 feet long, the M2 operates with two-wheel drive, aiming to offer a browsing experience similar to the existing Bookmobile. Notably, the new vehicle won’t require the driver to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which Coconino County manager Andy Bertelsen highlighted as an important aspect during the April discussions.

District 2 supervisor and committee vice-chairman Geronimo Vazquez expressed his preference for the M2, stating it would allow the continuation of current services. District 1 Superintendent and Committee Chair Patrice Horstman agreed, mentioning that the M2 has a “more mobile library feel.”

During its last operational period, the Bookmobile traveled 14,000 miles, making 400 stops in the 2019 fiscal year and delivering books, films, and other library materials to residents who might otherwise be underserved.

Almost 20 years ago, the 36-foot bus currently serving as Coconino County’s mobile library was acquired for $211,939.

The Library District raised its secondary property tax from $28.31 to $31.56 per $100,000 of assessed value, totaling $780,067 for fiscal year 2026, according to Coconino County. Horstman mentioned to the Arizona Daily Sun in June that the library district hadn’t experienced a tax increase in over a decade.