The Park County Library held a ribbon cutting this week to celebrate the arrival of its new Mobile Outreach Van. Library Director Karen Horner and Cody Library Manager Nicholle Gerharter attended the event thanking the community and the sponsors for their support.
Park County Library staff, Foundation Members, and sponsors at the ribbon cutting for the new Mobile Outreach Van
The Mobile Outreach Van is part of ongoing efforts to expand library services outside of library walls, strengthen community partnerships, and provide services to reach underserved areas in the community.
Through the generosity of the Park County Library Foundation, Fremont Motors of Cody and Powell, and Christ Episcopal Church of Cody, the library was able to purchase a van that will help make these goals possible.
The Mobile Outreach Van will provide a “pop-up library service” for Park County and it will allow new audiences to explore the library in novel ways. The van will also become the rural and remote center—a gathering spot that can create relationships and promote inclusivity throughout the county.
The Mobile Outreach Van will allow the library to pop-up at parks and playgrounds, community events, fairs, farmers markets while creating access to books, story-time, crafts, games, and other activities.
As Park County Library explains, “A typical pop-up library will involve setting up tables, hot spots, laptops, promotional materials and hands-on activities to promote and provide library services to regular library patrons and non-library users who can learn about library services.”
When the Mobile Outreach Van is not providing pop-up library services, the library plans to make regular visits to nursing homes, senior living facilities, hospitals, rural schools, summer camps, daycares, and preschools.
During community events and parades, the library hopes to make the van a “regular fixture” providing opportunities for more community engagement and connection. Eventually, the library system would like to offer services for members of the community who are homebound.
Park County Library has named Francie Coe as the Outreach Coordinator. Her goal is to place the Mobile Outreach Van out in the community as much as possible, increasing library visibility.
Outreach Van Schedule
Tuesday, November 29th – Clark Christmas Jingle; 5:00 pm – Clark Recreation Center with a small craft and books!
Wednesday, November 30th – Rocky Mountain Manor in Powell; 1:30 pm – Visiting opportunity to talk with residents about their library needs.
Saturday, December 3rd – Powell ChristmasFest Lighted Parade; 5:30 pm – There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Mobile Outreach Van in front of the Powell Library at 10:30 am
Sunday, December 4th – BBCOW Holiday Open House; 10:00-5:00 – The Van will be parked outside the Buffalo Bill Center of the West as part of their free weekend to the museum.
Wednesday, December 7th – Absaroka Senior Living in Cody -Visiting opportunity to ask the residents about their library needs.
Thursday, December 8th – Heartland Senior Center in Powell – Visiting opportunity to ask the residents about their library needs.
Saturday, December 10th – Christmas in Meeteetse Craft Fair; 10:00-5:00 – There will be a set up in the Senior Center with a craft and books.
Thursday, December 29th – CASA Program at the Powell Library – more information to come.
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