Back roads to bar codes: Long-time Bookmobile driver retires

“Cat in the Hat” and “Gone With the Wind” could make it to the end of rural driveways back in the 1980s, thanks to the Whitman County library bookmobile.

Known largely for her years driving the bookmobile, Marie Doak retired last week after 32 years of different job assignments with the Whitman County Library.

Library staffers threw Doak a colorful party Nov. 3, with words of thanks from county commissioner Greg Partch and a letter from state librarian Jan Walsh.

“I had several people that came to my retirement party that were on my original bookmobile route,” Doak said with a smile. “A lot of...