The first bookmobile in Cook County arrived in Palatine in 1936, courtesy of Nobel Puffer, a Palatine resident who served as county superintendent of schools.

Puffer had found that children in rural schools did not read as well as those in city schools because they lacked books. He decided to do something about it.

Having spent the summer pulling a trailer through the Northwest, he conceived the idea of creating a library in a trailer. He received help from Lottie Hart, the Palatine librarian, and she accompanied him on his first trip to the 22 schools, each having contributed $10 to support the bookmobile.

Puffer pulled the trailer with his car, eventually traveling to 61 one-room schools. The interior of the trailer was fitted with shelves of books, a small desk and a charcoal stove for warmth.

The program was discontinued in 1941 because of gas rationing during World War II.

• This is the 33rd of 150 vignettes about Palatine history to be published in the Daily Herald, as part of the village’s sesquicentennial celebration