The Library System is pleased to announce the expansion of their popular Bookmobile service! During the past year, the bookmobile significantly increased their service by adding an additional 8 Head Start stops and 4 stops to other communities: Country Meadows Assisted Living Facility; Woodcrest Villa Retirement Village; Manor Heights (Mountville); and Pleasant Valley Amish Store (Kirkwood). Last year the bookmobile had 51 stops on its monthly schedule. Since the arrival of the new bookmobile in the spring of 2018, the schedule now includes 63 stops to Head Starts, preschools and Senior Communities. That is a 23.5% increase over the previous year, while requests for service from Lancaster County communities is still in high demand.
In addition to the popularity of the new bookmobile, the expansion of services can be credited to a newly-formed partnership between the Library System and The Shalom Project. This partnership resulted in the placement of Kaitlin Abrahams as a new intern on the bookmobile. The Shalom Project is a one year voluntary service experience for recent college graduates. Participants live together in a house in Lancaster city, serve the community through full-time, professional internships, and participate in seminars focused on Christian spiritual formation and personal growth. They cover all of our participants’ living expenses, including housing, transportation, and food.
Since Kaitlin’s arrival, she has developed enthusiasm for the communities that receive Bookmobile service, “Serving the patrons of the Bookmobile has reminded me of how much I love helping people, especially when it’s helping people gain free access to something that has made my life so much better―books!”
Kaitlin Abrahams grew up in Kansas and recently graduated from EMU with a degree in English and Writing Studies. She is interning with the Lancaster Public Library Bookmobile. Kaitlin is looking forward to sharing her love of reading with patrons and becoming acquainted with the Lancaster area.