News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County Schools have created a mobile library that will hit the streets some time after Christmas.
The custom bus has been nicknamed BOB for Books on Board. It is filled with books from the White County Public Library that children can check out and read. Supervisor of Supportive Learning Farrah Griffith said the goal of the bus is to get children interested in reading as early as possible.
“The old adage the more you read, the more you know is true,” Griffith said. “We know that that works. So, if we can get books in the hands of kids early and get them excited to see BOB roll up maybe we can spur a love for reading outside of the classroom.”
The bus was revealed as part of the White County Christmas parade this past weekend. It will start making stops at the various after-school programs across the county after the holidays.
“It gives students a chance to check out books from the public library, so that they can have an opportunity to see things that are outside of the school library,” Griffith said. “Also, they can check books back in without having to drive to the public library, which is a good opportunity for kids to have access to books as well.”
Griffith said she is also planning on taking the bus to events not associated with school.
“If we can coordinate with other community events and maybe some community partners, not only can we offer books for check out from the public library but maybe even some books for kids to take home to keep,” Griffith said.
The White County Library will utilize the bus in the summer as part of a six-week early reading campaign. The customization of the bus was funded by the Governor’s Early Literacy Fund Grant. The school system had to purchase the bus.
“Our past Supervisor of Supportive Learning Valarie Butcher had heard from other districts who had gotten grant money to support a mobile library in their districts,” Griffith said. “So, she was intrigued by the idea and dug and found out about the Governor’s Early Literacy Grant, so she applied for that grant. We were denied the first time around, but they liked the premise of our grant and they actually reached out to her and recommended that we apply again a second time.”
