Are you interested in a rewarding summer experience? Getting books in the hands of kids during a summer break is just that and more! The day school is out for summer, many kids don’t pick up a book until school starts again in fall. I found a way to keep over 100 kids reading in my school neighborhood with a simple mobile library. It has been a very rewarding experience!
Benefits of a mobile library
A mobile library has many benefits such as providing access to books with flexibility and convenience, promoting literacy and increasing community engagement. Starting a mobile library a worthwhile experience for all. Benefits in a low income area serving kids in poverty are even greater because a mobile library gives kids consistent access to books. Kids look forward to checking out new books each week from the kids mobile library, they appreciate getting a snack and love seeing their school family. We love seeing the smiles on their faces and it warms our hearts that they are excited to go inside and read!
Why I operate a kids mobile library
Envision driving up to a home and hear the kids yell on the other side of the door “the books are here!” They come running out in bare feet, hopping on the hot pavement and run back in for flip flops. They have library books in hand and are eager to check out more books. They search for new books with excitement, but they are even more excited to see the adults delivering their books. So hugs go ‘round and smiles too. The kids are grateful to grab their weekly treat and off they go with books in hand. Onto the next house we drive until we have reached all the kids’ homes on our route. Not only do we get to deliver books that need to be read, but we get to keep in touch with kids over the summer! In all honesty, I am exhausted after a day of book delivery, but can’t wait to do it again next week. I record the stats for the day and spend the whole evening thinking about all the kids we made smile that day!
I started the mobile library for my school population in 2018, but started grant writing in 2017. I was awarded $1,000 to purchase books for the mobile library, which was all I needed to get started. Th folling year, I wrote another grant in the amount of $1000 primarily for books. My inventory grew to over 1,000 books that kids were excited to read. We have picture books, chapter books, early readers, graphic novels and books in spanish. My goal is to raise money for a dedicated van that can be customized with built-shelving. It is a lot of work lifting bins of books in and out of the back of a van at each stop…rewarding, but a lot of work. A dedicated kids mobile library vehicle would be a dream!
What you need to get started
If you want to start a school mobile library, start by talking to administrators for support, acquiring book inventory, inquiring about a vehicle, and sending out permission slips. If you are looking for funding, research about local grants in your area. You are more likely to get awared grant money from local organizations, but don’t be afraid to apply for larger grants if you qualify. I got started with grant money that supplied the mobile library with over 500 books to get started. Then, I checked out a district owned van, an OLD 1997 van because it had the back end room we need for lots of bins of books. I collected old empty science tubs from around the school that were not being used and those became our book storage. We sent out information flyers and permission slips. The mobile library for our school was born! It didn’t take much to start simple.
Contact you public library to see how you can partner to promote literacy. See if your community has a mobile public library to serve patrons. If so, they may be willing to partner and expand to your school community and adding a kids mobile library service.
Tips for a successful mobile library
Plan early: It is important to send out permission slips early enough for kids and families time to sign up. Sometimes those backpacks get overlooked over the weekend. Send it home more than once to give families ample opportunity to opt in for the service.
Plan your route: Determine the best locations to visit based on demand and accessibility or plan the route in the most efficient order based on who signed up for the service. Use optimizing software to assist with route mapping if you desire.
Build a diverse collection: Consider the needs and interests of your community and offer a range of materials, such as picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and early readers. Also, if you are serving a bilingual population, provide books in multiple languages.
Promote your services: Use social media, flyers, and word of mouth to spread the word about your mobile library and its offerings. My school shares information on the reader board in front of the school for the summer and photos on social media.
Establish partnerships: Collaborate with schools, community centers, and other organizations to expand your reach and provide additional resources. Your public library or a mobile public library could be valuable resources for you to help promote summer reading to kids.
Track your progress: Keep records of your visits, circulation, and feedback to measure the impact of your mobile library and make adjustments as needed.
Reflection
Take the time to reflect on why you are providing this service. The service may be a lot of work, but you will most likely find that it is much more rewarding. The kids LOVE the service and it keeps them excited to continue reading over the summer. Also, they love having school connections throughout the summer.
