[boo
k-muh-beel, -moh-] 
| an automobile, small truck, or trailer constructed to carry books and serve as a traveling library, as for communities where libraries are not accessible. |
| book·mo·bile (bŏŏk'mō-bēl') n. A truck, trailer, or van equipped to serve as a mobile lending library. [book + (auto)mobile.] |
bookmobile
shelf-lined motor van or other vehicle that carries books to rural and urban areas, establishes library service in areas that are too small to justify the creation of a stable branch, and acts as a demonstration model for communities that can afford library service and may choose to establish future stable branches. The earliest prototypes, which appeared in the 19th century in England and in the early 20th century in the United States, were horse-drawn book wagons. These provided service to individual homes, as well as to village centres.
Learn more about bookmobile with a free trial on Britannica.com.