Traveling library coming to Chestermere

Why go to the library when the library can come to you? That's what the Chestermere Public Library was thinking with their upcoming new program: a book bike that serves as a pop-up library!

As the name implies, a book bike carries books and other library items to various locations to serve as a mobile, traveling library. Chestermere Public Library Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Spencer McDonald is excited about the possibilities with a book bike and how it will allow the library to further engage with the community.

"It allows us to be able to take the library to people in popular areas such as the beach or the lake or community events. The book bike just allows us to be able to take the library to people instead of them coming to us," she said. 

The book bike works similarly to the library itself: if you want to rent a book or one of their program kits like their Test Drive a Hobby kits you simply choose what you would like, show your library card, and you're good to go! If you don't have a card you can make one on the spot, as they're free and the library just needs some information.

Regarding the hobby kits, McDonald thinks they'll be an even bigger hit than they already are because they can take specific kits with them depending on the location to offer the best service possible.

"I have a feeling we'll probably see kits like our bird-watching kit out and available, our badminton kit going out, it completely depends on the place and the day, right?"

McDonald believes the book bike could truly shine in its ability to help the library run community programs. For example, something like story times out and about in the community will be much easier with a traveling mobile library to carry everything you need to the location! If a child was feeling inspired to read after story time, the book bike would be right there too so you can grab a book right away.

"Instead of saying 'you got to come back to the library to grab books,' you can give them right there."

The book bike is expected to hit the streets in June, with a schedule of where it will be on the way soon. McDonald wanted to give a big thank you to the City of Chestermere's Community Grant, which allows the library to run programs like this.

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@strathmorenow.com