The Portsmouth Public Library has operated a bookmobile since 1938 and has offered Homebound Services since 2000. The Outreach Services Department serves all communities within the Scioto County borders providing specialized services to pre-schools, daycares, public school, and nursing facilities. The Outreach Services Department provides large print books, paperbacks, and magazines. Audio books (books read on CD), DVDs, and descriptive videos for the visually impaired (DVS) are also available. For more information regarding the Outreach Services Department, please call (740) 354-5413 or e-mail Mobile Services Department.

Bookmobile

The bookmobile provides library services to many neighborhoods throughout Scioto County. In addition, the bookmobile visits public schools and senior living communities. The bookmobile serves as a primary library branch in many outlying areas that have limited access to library services. A valid, Portsmouth Public Library card is needed in order to check materials out from the bookmobile.

The bookmobile operates within the confines of a four-week rotating schedule. Click to view the current bookmobile schedule. If you have any questions about a scheduled location or would like to recommend a stop, please contact the Mobile Services Department.

Homebound

The Homebound Program provides free delivery of library materials to homebound residents in Scioto County. You are eligible for this service if you are unable to visit one of our library locations or the bookmobile due to:

• Age
• Illness
• Physical Disability
• Lack of Transportation
• Or If You Are a Caregiver of a Homebound Person

Getting materials through this program is easy; just complete an application telling us what type of books you like to read. Call the Portsmouth Public Library 'Mobile Services Department' and give them the information that you selected on the application. We will select books from the library's collection and deliver them to you. About a month later, we will deliver new books to your home and pick up the old ones. We also keep records of the books we send you, so you shouldn't get the same book twice.

Talking Books

The Portsmouth Public Library is a sub lending agency for the Talking Book Program. The Talking Book Program is a national program offered through the State Library of Ohio. This program allows individuals who are legally blind, deaf, have a visual handicap, a physical handicap, or a reading disability to receive a cassette machine, and cassettes from the State Library of Ohio. Cassettes for this machine will be mailed to your home from the Regional Library free of charge, and can be returned with postage free of charge.

Braille books are available through this program as well.

If you would like to start receiving this service, complete the application and mail it to the State Library or contact the ‘Mobile Services Department’.

Please send applications to the State Library at:
THE STATE LIBRARY OF OHIO TALKING BOOK PROGRAM
274 EAST FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 100
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43201