VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Liverpool Public Library’s mobile library van is improving community literacy one stop at a time.
BROOKE VACCARO: Liverpool Public Library is now on the go! With their new mobile library van, they’re bringing books, technology and other services to communities.
VACCARO: Unveiled in September, the Liverpool mobile library van aims to provide free resources and library services to all of its local neighborhoods. With hopes of increasing literacy in the area and encouraging a love of reading, the van brings the best of the library to whoever needs it, no matter their age.
NORI GARTNER-BACA: We started the process of getting the mobile library because we wanted to serve all of our service area which is a very long, skinny piece of land. And we recognized that it’s difficult for some of our patrons to get to the library so why not bring the library to them.
VACCARO: New York state historically struggles with low literacy rates. According to World Population Review, just above 22% of adults lack basic literacy skills. This is the second lowest rate in the country. Resources like the mobile library can help improve those numbers by providing easier access to books.
JENNA PEYER: It’s important to be able to make sure that everybody has access to books and literature. Especially when you think about an aging population, people’s ability or disability, not everybody can drive, not everybody can walk, making sure everyone has that equal access.
VACCARO: The van has internet access, tech support, movies, over 1,000 books and can hold up to twelve kids for story time. Like any other library in Onondaga County, patrons can check out books for up to three weeks. The Liverpool community is excited for the mobile library and what having expanded access to its resources means for their kids.
ENDINA OSMANOVIC: I really love that we have this for our community. I think that my kids appreciate it because they don’t sometimes get a chance to go to the library so having it down at the lake where they can kind of pick things, which they already have, is really great.
VACCARO: Over the next few months, the mobile library will visit schools, senior centers, local shops, apartment complexes and community events to improve literacy and foster a love of reading one stop at a time.
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Liverpool Public Library is now on the go! Unveiled in September, the Liverpool Public Library mobile library, otherwise known as the LPL2Go Mobile Tech Van, aims to provide free resources and library services to all of its local neighborhoods.
With hopes of increasing literacy in the area and encouraging a love of reading, the van brings the best of the library to whoever needs it, no matter their age. Nori Gartner-Baca, Liverpool Public Library communications director, said this is exactly why they created it.
“We started the process of getting the mobile library because we wanted to serve all of our service area which is a very long, skinny piece of land. And we recognized that it’s difficult for some of our patrons to get to the library so why not bring the library to them,” said Gartner-Baca.
Given the literacy rates in New York, having library access is vital. The state historically struggles with low literacy rates. According to World Population Review, just above 22% of adults lack basic literacy skills. This is the second lowest rate in the country. Resources like the mobile library can help improve those numbers by providing easier access to books.
“It’s important to be able to make sure that everybody has access to books and literature. Especially when you think about an aging population, people’s ability or disability, not everybody can drive, not everybody can walk, making sure everyone has that equal access,” said Jenna Peyer, outreach librarian.
The van has internet access, tech support, movies, over 1,000 books and can hold up to twelve kids for storytime. Like any other library in Onondaga county, patrons can check out books for up to three weeks.
The Liverpool community is excited for the mobile library and what having expanded access to its resources means. Edina Osmanovic, Liverpool resident and mother of two, believes the van is a positive addition to the library.
“I really love that we have this for our community. I think that my kids appreciate it because they don’t sometimes get a chance to go to the library so having it down at the lake where they can kind of pick things, which they already have, is really great,” said Osmanovic.
Come spring, the library plans to have a set route for the van. Until then, the mobile library will visit schools, senior centers, local shops, apartment complexes and community events over the next few months to improve literacy and foster a love of reading one stop at a time.
The van’s next appearance will be Nov. 1 at the Liverpool Public Library Food Drive.