Clinton County Libraries look to bring reading to everyone with bookmobile fundraiser
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LOCK HAVEN -- For many Clinton County residents, the nearest library may not be just a short drive, bike or walk away. For seniors without transportation, families in rural communities and children living miles away from a library branch, access to books and educational materials/programs can be a challenge.
Clinton County Libraries hopes to change that with an ambitious campaign to replace its aging library van with a countywide bookmobile that would bring books, literacy programs, technology and community services directly to residents across the county.
"What Clinton County needs is a mobile library service," Executive Director Saverio Provenzano said.
The library system has launched an initiative to raise between $40,000 and $100,000, depending on the type of vehicle they are able to purchase with the funds raised.
A converted cargo van could cost roughly $45,000, while a fully outfitted, professionally wrapped mobile library similar to those Provenzano managed in Texas would approach $100,000.
More than replacing a van
The fundraising campaign began with a practical need as the library's current vehicle, a 2013 van with more than 150,000 miles, has reached the end of its useful life.
"Our van is in disrepair at the moment. It's not gonna pass inspection next April," Provenzano said. "Right now, we just had to put in money for a blinker, almost $200, just to make it road safe."
However, the problems don't stop there.
"The exhaust issue is continual," he said. "The doors don't stay open. They have to be taped shut."
Today, the vehicle primarily serves as a courier van, transporting requested books between the Lock Haven, Renovo and Beech Creek library branches.
The new vehicle, however, would allow the library to expand its outreach through a true bookmobile.
Bringing the library
to the people
According to Provenzano's bookmobile proposal, Clinton County has approximately 37,800 residents, with nearly 48 percent living in rural areas, where distance often limits access to centralized library services.
The proposal notes that more than 20 percent of the county's residents are age 65 or older, about 20 percent are youth and 15.5 percent of residents live in poverty -- groups that can especially benefit from free educational resources and outreach programs.
"I believe if we take the resources to the people, it will benefit them even more," Provenzano said.
Rather than expecting residents to travel to a library, the bookmobile would visit communities throughout the county on a rotating schedule.
Priority stops outlined in the proposal include Lock Haven, Renovo, Mill Hall, Avis and surrounding rural townships, along with senior centers, assisted living facilities, schools, parks, community centers and seasonal events.
"We would go on a Tuesday afternoon with the bookmobile and set up in a store parking lot or a local business that's a partner," Provenzano said while giving an example. "People can come that afternoon. Maybe there's a story time. Maybe there's an arts and craft program. You can check out books."
Additionally, using wireless internet and a mobile circulation system, patrons would be able to borrow materials just as they would inside a library branch.
The vehicle would also carry curated collections tailored to the season or school calendar.
"Say it's November," Provenzano said. "We bring out books for autumn and Thanksgiving and Veterans Day so that kids going there will have stuff that's pertinent for school."
Lessons learned from Texas
Before joining Clinton County Libraries, Provenzano managed the bookmobile program for the El Paso Public Library system.
"When I first started, there were two old, Winnebago-ish type bookmobiles," he said. "By the time I left, we had just purchased two new converted cargo vans."
He said one of the most common questions residents asked had nothing to do with the physical library buildings.
"The number one question I would get was, 'Mr. Provenzano, when are those bookmobiles going to be up and running again?'"
He saw firsthand how mobile libraries reached residents who otherwise would never visit a local library branch.
"If you go to a church and you set up in a parking lot... they will go to that where maybe they have no means of getting to one of those other branches," he said. "So you bring it to them."
He believes the same concept fits Clinton County's geography.
"Between here and Renovo and here and Loganton, there's not a lot of things in between but a lot of places that could benefit," he said.
More than books
According to the proposal, the bookmobile would provide much more than circulating books, plans include:
-- Lending children's, adult and large-print books.
-- Access to e-books, audiobooks and other digital resources.
-- Free Wi-Fi and internet access.
-- Library card registration and account services.
-- Story times and early literacy programming.
-- Summer reading activities.
-- Digital literacy support and workforce assistance.
-- Outreach events in partnership with schools and nonprofit organizations.
The vehicle would also be ADA accessible and capable of carrying approximately 1,000 items, with internet connectivity to allow materials to be checked out anywhere in the county.
The proposal envisions operating four to five days a week, with seasonal adjustments for parks and indoor community stops.
A community effort
Funding for the projects will rely on grants, business sponsorships, local government support and community fundraising.
Provenzano has already applied for a Community Development Block Grant and plans to pursue Community Foundation funding, state literacy grants, federal rural development opportunities and other local grants.
The library is also planning a Bingo fundraiser later this year after having previous success with an event to help finance the library's sensory room.
"We're also looking for small donations and sponsorships," Provenzano said. "I think sponsorship is the key."
He hopes an enticing opportunity to draw in donors will be permanent recognition on the finished vehicle.
"If a person donates to this, we will put everybody's name somewhere along it," he said. "Obviously a big sponsorship... we'll put the name on it so that people will understand the importance of the contribution."
The library has already received support from the Clinton County United Way, local businesses and individual donors, including proceeds from local artists' gallery sale.
"We're getting some smaller donations in," Provenzano said. "Every little bit helps."
The proposal also calls for partnerships with school districts, county agencies, senior centers, parks departments and literacy-focused nonprofits.
Success will ultimately be measured by the number of communities served, new library card registrations, circulation numbers, program attendance, digital resource usage and community feedback.
Creating excitement
for reading
While the fundraising campaign is centered on a vehicle, Provenzano believes the real goal is inspiring lifelong readers.
He sees the bookmobile becoming another attraction that sparks curiosity.
"It creates excitement," he said. "Kids want to go on it and it might be the start of reading for them, seeing the bookmobile in a different way than a traditional brick-and-mortar house."
Ultimately, he said, the project is about making the library visible wherever people live. "For libraries, my idea is community," Provenzano said. "We need the community, for the community, because that's the people who are going to deliver this bookmobile.