Because of systemic racism's segregation laws, historical bookmobile and library deposit stations were established during the 1930s to provide book access to the African American community in Gaston County, North Carolina. These photographs are documented in the archives of the State Library of North Carolina Digital Collection.

Bookmobile service started for the African American community in Gaston County with the establishment of five book stations. The five stations were located at Lincoln Academy, Stewart Junior High School at Bessemer City, John Chavis High School at Cherryville, Reid High School at Belmont, and the Falls Street Community Center of Gastonia.

Each book station, under the charge of its own special library committee, was staffed by a volunteer librarian. Two African American librarians with library school training were involved in the new bookmobile stations. Gaston County Librarian Miss Barbara Mae Eaker was in charge of the bookmobile, which would visit each station once a month.
(GGZ 3 October 1939, p. 10) (GGZ 9 Oct 1939, p. 4) (GGZ 12 Oct 1939, p. 9) (GGZ 11 July 1940, p. 4)

African American bookmobile service in Gaston County remained a separate book collection until the end of 1940 when it became part of the regular bookmobile service program. (Gaston Co. Public Library 1905-1981)

Rev. Myles Andrew Julius Rhynes, author of “The Echoes of a Traveler’s Dream”, was Library Director for the Gaston Community Center of North Falls Street. The bookmobile made its first stop at the Falls Street Community Center library and left 141 books.
Patrons could read inside the center’s library as well as check out books.
(GGZ 9 Oct 1939, p. 4) (GGZ 10 Oct 1940, sect 8, p. 11)
Quick Focus On Gaston County Art & Culture: Myles Andrew Julius Rhynes: Gaston County Poet, Minister, and Librarian

1 December 1936, A library organized at Highland High School for African Americans with Miss Nettie Jones as librarian. Library had fiction, reference, and children’s books. (GGZ 1 December 1936, “Negro News: Negro Library is Established at High School”)

Narrative source: Gaston County Public Library History: 1930s-Gaston County Public Library Libguides dotcom
.
Photograph description: Top left: Gaston Co., North Carolina: undated, 1930's photograph of children with books from the bookmobile.
Written on back of photograph: "A Negro Book Station, Gaston County Public Library" -

Right top: Gaston County Public Library bookmobile at African American Boarding School. (could be Lincoln Academy which was a prominent historical African American boarding and co-educational school located in Gaston County, North Carolina, near Kings Mountain.)

Bottom left: Rev. Myles Andrew Julius Rhynes was Library Director for the Gaston Community Center of North Falls Street.

Source: State Library of North Carolina Archives.
Photographer: unknown
.