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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Dr. Tamara Mathison recalls using the original Stutsman County Library Bookmobile when she was younger.

Now she’s an optometrist at Lifetime Vision Source, a sponsor of the new bookmobile that arrived in Jamestown earlier this year.

“When I received the information brochure regarding fund raising for a new bookmobile, I immediately knew it would be a community project I wanted to support,” Dr. Mathison told the library. “I remember as a kid waiting for ‘Bookmobile day’ to exchange my pile of library books. I was fortunate to learn firsthand the importance of the library to a community as I worked as a circulation clerk through my high school years at my local public library.”

Dr. Mathison says she sees the library as a hub of the community; a place for all community members to have access to books, art, music, technology and gathering. she says the bookmobile is an outreach of those services to students and community members that otherwise could have a difficult time accessing.

“A part of the “why” I became on optometrist was to work with students that have learning difficulties due to vision deficiencies. One of the questions I always ask students when I see them for a vision exam is if they enjoy reading? If not, my goal is to determine whether their visual system has anything to do with that and what I can do to help them to make reading easier and more enjoyable.”

Dr. Mathison says its one of her greatest feelings of accomplishment when a student returns and reports they now enjoy reading. She’s thrilled to be able to be part of the bookmobile project that ensures access of books and services to the area.

All information courtesy of the James River Valley Library System.