Holmes County approves $200,000 for new library bookmobile

Holmes County commissioners approved $200,000 to help replace a library bookmobile that delivers service to residents who do not have access to a library facility. The Holmes County District Public Library says its two bookmobiles run routes across schools, stores and community stops throughout the county, keeping books and other services within reach in a rural area built around Millersburg.

The decision came after library leaders outlined the cost of keeping the program fully staffed with vehicles. In Nov. 17, 2025 meeting minutes, Library Director Paula Cicconetti told commissioners the library was working to replace one of the two bookmobiles. She said the 2016 unit had cost $230,000, while a replacement would now cost more than $410,000. Chairman Miller asked whether another $100,000 county contribution would help, and Cicconetti said it would be very beneficial. She also said grant funding may be available and estimated the bookmobile program would likely be back to full strength in fall 2026 after the new unit is added.

The spending carries a clear return in a county where the bookmobile is a major part of library access. Cicconetti told commissioners Holmes County ranked third in Ohio for items circulated per citizen, a striking measure of how heavily local residents use the service when it comes to them. A 2024 report said the bookmobile program once circulated more items per capita than any other library in the country, reinforcing how central the route has become to everyday library use in Holmes County.

The county’s latest contribution also fits a longer pattern of support. Commissioners’ minutes from Aug. 28, 2017 show the library had already received $190,000 in pledges toward a new bookmobile, including $100,000 from the commissioners, with one final $10,000 pledge needed to reach the $200,000 mark. The latest approval brings that level of backing back into place as the library works to keep the fleet moving.

Holmes County District Public Library lists Paula Cicconetti as library director and Trae Schonauer as bookmobile manager. With two bookmobiles serving residents who lack a nearby facility, county leaders are betting that a $200,000 investment is most valuable when it reaches the schools, stores and community stops where people already are.