Belmont Library Begins Home Delivery Service

When Betty Pex moved to Belmont, the city had a population of 2,500 and the library was little more than a room in the old City Hall building.

Over the years, the has changed locations several times as it grew in size, and Ms. Pex was a frequent visitor through it all.

“I’ve been taking books out from the Belmont Library since about 1950,” Ms. Pex says.

While still as avid a reader as she ever was, Ms. Pex can no longer get to the library as easily as she once could. So she now receives books via the Belmont Library’s Homebound Services.

On Wednesday, Belmont Library volunteer Julie Grimes delivered several books to Ms. Pex’s home.

“I love to read and if I were unable to go to the library or the bookstore, I would really love it if someone brought me books,” Ms. Grimes says.

The Belmont Library’s Homebound Services, which started making deliveries earlier this month, is free and available to all Belmont residents who can’t make it to the library due to physical challenges, visual disabilities, non-driver status (senior), or short/long term illness.

“It serves a portion of the public who enjoys using the library, but because of physical limitations can’t make it here,” says Belmont Library Senior Library Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator Anne Lynch.

All library lending items within the San Mateo County Library system are eligible for the homebound delivery service. Patrons can choose specific items using the library’s catalog or tell the Homebound Services team what kinds of books they like and have the library staff make recommendations.    

The 75-cent hold fee the library normally charges is waived for those using the homebound service.

While Ms. Pex reads a wide variety of books, she says she is especially fond of mysteries, a genre she has been reading every since she opened her first Nancy Drew book as a young girl.

Ms. Pex says she doesn’t read as quickly as she used to, but still manages to read three to four books a week. Among the books she had delivered to her Wednesday was The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.

When Ms. Pex is done reading all the books delivered this week, they will be picked up by Ms. Grimes and several more books will be delivered. 

“It means a lot to me to have this library service,” Ms. Pex says.

For more information on the Belmont Library’s Homebound Services, please contact the Belmont Library at 650-591-8286 ext 231.