The Des Plaines Public Library's bookmobile is making its final rounds this week. The mobile library retires on Saturday, Dec. 17.

MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY | Staff Photographer

Shiv Patel, fifth-grader at Devonshire School in Des Plaines, checks out the children's fiction collection in the Des Plaines Public Library's bookmobile for the last time.

MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY | Staff Photographer

Susan Farid, head of circulation services for the Des Plaines Public Library, oversees the library's bookmobile service, which will be discontinued after more than 42 years this Saturday. The current library bus has been in operation for 14 years.

MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY | Staff Photographer

The Des Plaines Public Library's bookmobile retires on Saturday, Dec. 17.

MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY | Staff Photographer

Des Plaines Public Library's bookmobile service, started in June 1969, will cease Saturday. The yellow bookmobile seen here was the library's second. The mobile library was a regular feature in Des Plaines' Fourth of July parade.

Courtesy of Des Plaines Public Library

Des Plaines Public Library's bookmobile service, started in June 1969, will cease this Saturday.

Courtesy of Des Plaines Public Library

Cole Curran, 8, and his uncle Tim Kohmstedt, both of Des Plaines, peruse through the Des Plaines Public Library bookmobile's collection during one of its final runs this week.

MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY | Staff Photographer