New mobile learning center offers opportunity for partnership
between library and other agencies
San Benito County Free Library staff and the Friends of the
Library volunteers are still raising money for a bookmobile, but
residents got a glimpse of a new vehicle that will be part of the
education fleet April. 15. The vehicle debuted to residents as one
event of many to celebrate National Library Week.
New mobile learning center offers opportunity for partnership between library and other agencies
San Benito County Free Library staff and the Friends of the Library volunteers are still raising money for a bookmobile, but residents got a glimpse of a new vehicle that will be part of the education fleet April. 15. The vehicle debuted to residents as one event of many to celebrate National Library Week.
“We had a vision of working together to create a partnership with other agencies,” said Nora Conte, the county librarian.
With support from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, library staff purchased the San Benito County Mobile Family Learning Center for $22,500 from the Woodland Library. The vehicle, which includes a wheelchair lift, an awning and spaces for children or adults to sit inside, will be used for outreach events. The goal is for the library to coordinate efforts with other agencies or nonprofits in the region, such as First Five San Benito County or Public Health. The library programs will include story times, adult literacy tutoring, basic computer training and bilingual parenting and health classes.
“Many in the community because of the economy – it’s been difficult for people to get out,” Conte said. “But the supervisors recognize we need to serve all people in the county.”
The mobile unit, which is 32 feet long, will be used to promote literacy in the far reaches of the county, and until a bookmobile is available, librarians will have a handful of books on board. The inside of the unit is reminiscent of a rocket ship and was designed by interior design students from California State University, Sacramento. The vehicle is valued at $75,000, much more than San Benito staff paid for it.
Conte first heard about the vehicle from state library staff, but initially Woodland Library staff planned to keep the vehicle though they had lost funding to run the program. Eventually the director of the library offered to sell it at a discount.
In addition, library staff officially opened the homework and assignment center, which has several more computers for students who need some study time. The center also has Rosetta stone and literacy software that will assist people involved in the adult literacy program.
“No one does anything alone,” Conte said. “Friends, the county administrative officer – who has been very understanding of how important this is – and the superintendent all helped.”
Since Conte joined the library staff a year and half ago, circulation went from 9,000 items a month to 21,000 items a month.
“I just fueled a fire,” she said.
After residents toured the mobile learning center, they snacked on cookies and ice cream in the library. Children participated in a scavenger hunt and librarian staff offered story time readings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
While the county board of supervisors provided funds to purchase the mobile learning center, the Friends of the Library are still seeking grant money and donations to purchase laptops and other audiovisual equipment to stock the vehicle.
