Rock Island’s newest library service is on wheels. The Rock Island Public Library’s new Mobile Library vehicle, “Library2Go,” starts its regular route schedule the week of January 6, 2020.
Library2Go Brings the Rock Island Public Library to You!
The Rock Island Public Library’s new Mobile Library vehicle, “Library2Go,” starts its regular route schedule the week of January 6, 2020. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new service will be held:
Tuesday, January 7, at 2:30 pm, across from Earl Hanson Elementary School, 4000 9th Street, Rock Island.
Earl Hanson Elementary School students will walk over to help celebrate what will become a regular Mobile Library stop on alternating Tuesdays. The event also features brief remarks from the library, City officials, and contributors, followed by tours until 4:00 pm. Coffee, cocoa, cookies, a free Library2Go keychain tag, and schedules will be available while supplies last.
“Library2Go is an additional way that the Rock Island Public Library can provide outreach to our community. Its versatility, mobility, and bright, large-scale design will keep literacy, learning, technology, and community at the forefront of people’s minds. We want to connect with more people in our service area by bringing our services directly to people,” said Angela Campbell, Rock Island Public Library director.
The community’s newest Mobile Library runs on a two-week “Red Week” and “Blue Week” route schedule Mondays through Thursdays. The 24 scheduled stops include schools, parks, churches, shopping areas, and other community sites. Routes go beyond just Rock Island to reach the library’s extended Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District service area.
Stops for the first week are as follows:
Monday, January 6:
- The Rock Island HyVee, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am
- Partners in Job Training office, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Martin Luther King Center, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, January 7:
- Black Hawk College Adult Learning Campus on 11th St, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm
- Earl Hanson Elementary School, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm
- Park across from Cool Beanz Coffee House, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Wednesday, January 8:
- St. John’s Lutheran Church, from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
- Advance Auto Parts lot, 18th Ave, Rock Island, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm
- Reynolds, IL, near the American Legion, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Thursday, January 9:
- Rauch Family Park, 16th Avenue Rock Island, from 9:30 am to 11 am
- Centennial Shelter Park (Hennepin Canal, 2004 Big Island Road), from 1:30 to 2:30 pm
- Milan Hungry Hobo lot, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm
Fridays are reserved for surprise “pop-up” stop days, which will be announced on the Rock Island Public Library Facebook page. The Mobile Library may also be available by appointment for Saturday special events and outreach. A different "Blue Route" schedule of stops starts the week of January 13
It’s been at least 30 years since the Rock Island Public Library had a mobile vehicle. Attendees at library community conversations in 2018 identified a mobile library as a means of achieving the library’s strategic goal of building stronger community connections. Acquiring a mobile library by 2020 was part of the library’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan.
Working in partnership with the City of Rock Island Public Works Department revealed the availability of an existing 2014 Ford F59 Walk-in Van bookmobile at LDV Custom Specialty Vehicles of Burlington, WI. The library purchased the $165,000 vehicle with a $100,000 grant from the Rock Island Public Library Foundation and additional existing budget dollars.
Named “Library2Go,” the Mobile Library was wrapped by Edwards Creative, of Milan, IL. Library2Go includes a mobile lift, and on-board WiFi hot-spot technology for digital access. Books and other collections on the vehicle will adjust, depending on the needs of specific stops. City Public Works will help maintain the vehicle as part of the City fleet. Additional funding for technology was provided by a census grant through the Doris and Victor Day Foundation.
The full Library2Go route schedule is available at the library website as a link under “Download It” and the events calendar, and at library locations, and as a recorded message at 309-732-7369.
For information about bringing Library2Go to your business or event as an outreach vehicle, please call 309-732-7369 to leave a message for the Mobile Library coordinator.