The Placentia community’s local library is finally going mobile.
For the first time, the Placentia Library District will be launching a bookmobile program: a van hauling collections of books and other items to neighborhoods and schools across the city.
The van will contain several hundred items, including books from many genres and items like internet hotspots, educational kits, Spanish learning games, board games – even a robotic cat.
“This is an extension of the library’s mission to provide equitable access, information and resources to the community and be able to serve these areas where they were lacking resources because of their transportation barrier,” said Yesenia Baltierra, assistant library director with the district.
The van will cost the library just over $100,000 a year to maintain, including the cost of insurance, internet, collection development, equipment servicing and general maintenance, according to Baltierra.
The bookmobile will stop bi-monthly at specific locations and local events, where residents can checkout or return items.
Some library patrons hope that this means that there will be more afterschool programming for their children.
“I hope the Placentia Library can provide more activities and programs for kids, like afterschool programs featuring arts and crafts,” said Hana Yoon, who regularly visits the Placentia Library with her two daughters, Elaine and Irene.
“I want my kids to feel familiar in a library, to grow up with a library and books around them.”
“I bet the sky’s the limit,” said Kenn Holt of future programming through the bookmobile.
Holt, a longtime patron of the library, regularly visits the branch with his 13-year-old daughter.
“It’s a wonderful idea that they’re not just staying put, that they’re going out and reaching out to the community, especially for underprivileged kids that don’t have access to books easily.”
Baltierra says the library is coordinating visits to Placentia schools, especially those operating Title I programs, to address gaps in access to library services.
“Librarians are trained to do a whole range of things, like helping people find out where to file their taxes and register to vote,” said Dr. Thuy Vo Dang, professor of information studies and Asian American studies at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
“These are all ways that libraries help promote civic engagement. When you have something like a mobile unit from a public library going into communities to serve them better, you expand that access significantly.”
Placentia joins other library districts across the county like Santa Ana, Anaheim and OC Public Libraries in mobilizing local libraries to reach underserved areas in their communities.
Recently, other agencies – like the Orange County Clerk-Recorder – have also launched their own programs to provide mobile services.
The schedule of stops for the Placentia Library’s bookmobile will be available on the library’s calendar.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the bookmobile will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 24 at the library, located at 411 E. Chapman Ave., Placentia CA 92870.
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. Contact her at etaylor@voiceofoc.orgor@camerakeepsrolling.