DECATUR- What do Suze Orman, Bill O'Reilly, Lee Iacocca and The Grinch have in common?

They, or rather their respective books, all cruise together through the streets of town on the Decatur Public Library's Bookmobile 549. A community fixture since the 1960s, the bookmobiles have not changed much in form and function. The big white vans make stops around town to check library materials in and out.

As Sally Petro, library clerk and bookmobile driver, unplugged 549 from its generator Monday morning, she and library assistant Shelley Whiteside readied it for the day's 9:30 a.m. stop, the St. Mary's Hospital adult and children's day care facilities. The 25-foot van grumbled to life as it pulled away from the library to traverse the leaf-strewn streets. Petro pulled up next to the buildings, and children's day care staff members climbed aboard with a few helpers toddling behind.

"They love the repetition of the different stories, but they like new ones, too," said Stephanie Coins, a teacher for 2-year-olds at the day care. "They get excited when the bookmobile comes because they know they're going to have new stories."

Julie Henderson, activities director at St. Mary's Adult Day Care, said the bookmobile enhances the way she does her job by bringing to her a diverse collection of resources.

Whiteside picks out classic slapstick comedy videos and musical numbers she thinks the older clients will enjoy, Henderson said as she toted a bag containing "The Harvey Girls," "Hee Haw," Benny Goodman and Judy Garland items down the bookmobile steps.

Henderson also picks out books the facility's seniors can read aloud to the youngsters from the children's day care when they visit.

Although attendance dies down a bit as fall fades into winter, sometimes causing Petro and Whiteside to spend a morning or afternoon perusing the vehicle's selections or tidying the shelves, both women said they find satisfaction in their jobs.

On an average day, Whiteside said, the bookmobile is not without its unusual occurrences. She once found a piece of pepperoni in the pocket of a book she was checking back in. And Petro said the mammoth vehicle has been backed into twice while she was at the wheel.

"And, once in a while, we'll get a kid on here who doesn't want to leave," Whiteside said.

Both agreed the service they provide is underused in the community, and they wondered about those who don't even know it exists.

"I think the people that use it and are into it are into it big time," Whiteside said. "But I think a lot of adults that hear about it think it's just for kids."

George Roberts, a library assistant who mans Bookmobile 548, has been bringing the library into the community for 35 years.

"I like working with the kids that come on the bookmobile," Roberts said. "We get 600 to 800 kids a week. Of course, I like the adults, too."

Roberts said his passion in life has been getting children interested in reading, and he's noticed a few changes in their interests since he began his work with the roving libraries in 1973. Now, he said, younger readers seem to be more interested in fantasy storylines - perhaps due to the popularity of such characters as Harry Potter. Of course, Roberts said with a wistful smile, those timeless childhood standbys by Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume and Dr. Seuss remain popular. He remembers helping generations of people as they stepped aboard the shelf-lined vehicles.

"I have some people that have been coming since I've been on the bookmobile," Roberts said, adding that he treasures the chance to watch them go through milestones and connect over a shared passion for literature. People who used to scamper onto the vehicles in search of the latest "Arthur" books as children now approach Roberts with their own little ones. Petro and Whiteside echoed the personal connection they feel with the patrons who show up at their respective stops like clockwork.

"We know a lot about their families, their jobs, what they're doing for Thanksgiving," Whiteside said.

"It's almost like a neighborhood bar where everybody knows everybody else," Petro added.

That connection is something Roberts will miss when he retires next year, but he plans to stay involved with youngsters by volunteering to read at local schools.

"I want to help kids learn to read because there are a few kids who need help," he said. "And I'll be there if they need me."

Annie Getsinger can be reached at agetsinger@herald-review.com or 421-6968.