Great Southern Bank Sponsors New St. Louis County Library Bookmobile
St. Louis County Library Foundation has received a $150,000 donation from Great Southern Bank to sponsor a new St. Louis County Library (SLCL) bookmobile. This generous donation will fund a state-of-the-art mobile unit that will hit the road in the second half of 2024. SLCL operates four school bookmobiles that visit more than 50 public and private schools throughout 11 school districts in St. Louis County. The current fleet is aging and in need of replacement. SLCL has made school bookmobile replacement a major priority in 2023 ensuring the Library District can continue providing equitable services to students in St. Louis County. The gift from Great Southern Bank is an important step forward in achieving this goal.
Kristen Sorth, St. Louis County Library Director & CEO said, “School bookmobile service is deeply and fondly engrained in the memories of so many in our community. For many students, the bookmobile may be the only contact they have with St. Louis County Library. Bookmobiles eliminate many barriers to service and open up a world of discovery and enjoyment for students. We are meeting kids where they are. We are grateful to Great Southern Bank for continuing to make this service possible.”
Great Southern Bank St. Louis Market President Brian Davies commented, “We are excited to sponsor a next-generation St. Louis County Bookmobile, providing important accessibility that will enrich our students’ lives and learning experiences. To us, this is much more than a sponsorship; it’s an investment that will pay dividends for years to come.”
The new Great Southern Bank bookmobile will house a collection of approximately 5,000 items featuring a diverse range of authors, genres and age levels. The vehicle includes an accessible lift for ADA access, ensuring all patrons can access the bookmobile safely. The interior will have removable seating for visitors, two staff stations where kids can check out books or ask questions, and multiple skylights to provide abundant natural light. The new bookmobile will include a large, 21-foot awning to provide shade and shelter for outdoor access and activities. Additionally, the vehicle will contain a cradlepoint router to provide extended WiFi access in areas where the bookmobile will visit.
SLCL has been using bookmobiles since 1947. These mobile libraries eliminate many barriers to service and open up a world of discovery and enjoyment for area students. For many young people in St. Louis County, the bookmobile is the only contact they have with the Library. In 2022 school bookmobiles checked out 291,522 items to students and issued over 7,550 new library cards. Bookmobiles made 840 visits to schools and provided service to nearly 274,293 children. In 2022 there was a constant increase in the amount of school districts and sites that requested bookmobile service as it is a reliable and engaging way to enhance literacy initiatives.
To learn more about mobile services at St. Louis County Library, please visit https://www.slcl.org/content/bookmobile-mobile-services.
Media inquiries should be directed to Jennifer McBride, SLCL Communications Manager at 314-994-3300 ext 2250 or jmcbride@slcl.org.