Library by Design: All Roads Lead to Literacy
By Ann Kim Sep 15, 2010The third busiest U.S. library system, King County Library System (KCLS), WA, is taking green design to the streets, expanding its outreach services with new ecofriendly Library2Go! and Digital Discovery Zone vehicles, rolled out this summer. The five new low-emission vehicles are diesel with solar auxiliary power and feature solar panels on the roof and interiors furnished with recycled materials. They join the library’s Traveling Library Center (a truck) and ABC Express (a bookmobile).
Each Library2Go! is smaller and more agile than bus-sized bookmobiles and carries a collection of more than 1500 books and media items. They will visit childcare centers, low-income housing, and senior centers. The vans, decked out in a vibrant red, are designed so librarians can replace books depending on their destination. They will be used in turn by the 44 libraries in the system.
One of the vehicles, dubbed the Digital Discovery Zone, deploys a new program that aims to increase digital literacy. It will bring Apple MacBooks (and parallel operating systems for Windows programs) to schools, community centers, after-school programs, and senior centers.
At approximately $165,000 per van and $190,000 for the Discovery Zone, the vehicles are funded by the $172 million library capital bond measure passed in 2004.
Ann Kim is a freelance writer and editor in New York City
