The Troy Miami County Public Library is making its bookmobile rounds this summer in a smaller vehicle while a new bookmobile is being manufactured.

The library board in May voted to purchase an Adventure II bookmobile from OBS of Canton for $152,910, according to Rachelle Miller, the library’s director. The bookmobile should be ready in six to eight months.

Miller and Teri Curtis, library fiscal officer, discussed issues with the library’s full size bookmobile July 7 during 2017 tax budget discussions with the Miami County commissioners. The commissioners are the agent for the library budget.

The library’s regular bookmobile has been out of service since February following what was described as recurring mechanical issues.

Miller said the library only had the vehicle for four years but problems were encountered in the first week it was in service. The vehicle was a demonstration model with 400 miles at time of purchase.

Discussions are being held with the library’s lawyers to determine if legal action is appropriate.

Until the new bookmobile is available a Ford transit van is being used to make the rounds. Shelves were installed to carry books, but carts also are used, Miller said.

The vehicle started following a modified schedule serving about one half the number of people previously, she said, adding, “It’s better than nothing.” With the modified schedule the van is making fewer stops and cannot go out in extremely hot weather because it lacks air in the back or when it’s raining.

A transit van turned bookmobile has a new look as of Friday thanks to a wrap done at Characters, Miller said. Chuck Melvin of Troy created the artwork. “Hopefully, people will see that and think ‘yeah, it's the bookmobile!’ because right now, a white van does not project a ‘come have some fun with us’ attitude,’” Miller said.