Big Blue Bus on the Road in Rochester

Big Blue is ready for readers.

The 's new bookmobile, dubbed the Big Blue Bus, is stocked with books and is taking to the road. It's the library's second bookmobile and was purchased from the Willard Public Library in Battle Creek with funds bequested from the Doris and Charles Edie Estate.

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The bookmobile was dedicated Wednesday in a short ceremony attended by about 50 people at the library.

"The acquisition of the new bookmobile was the result of a fortuitist convergence of circumstances,” said library director Christine Lind Hage.

Paul Edie, son of Doris and Charles, attended the ceremony, according to a news release. He said his mother was a library user and volunteer for many years; she taught writing workshops and held book discussions at the library.

The mission of the Big Blue Bus is to support children's development by providing learning opportunities for preschoolers, parents and professionals in the community. The bookmobile will visit Head Start and licensed daycare programs; it is on the road three days a week. It will eventually expand to preschools.

In 2011, more than 86,000 items were checked out of the bookmobile, making it the busiest bookmobile in the state, Hage said.

"We are confident that Big Blue will become just as popular," she said.