Bookmobile offers summer reading for local youth

Since 2010, Lake Joy Elementary School has been providing Houston County youth with books over the summer in a colorful bookmobile.

At Wednesday’s stop at Redfox Run subdivision, young children flocked to the decorated small bus containing an array of books.

The program was started by Lynn Wood, Lake Joy Elementary media specialist, and Jessie Anderson, a teacher, who both had an idea to take books to their students during the summer. An older, small bus not in use by the school system was donated for the summer project. Bookshelves were created by a former Lake Joy Elementary student, Sean Palmer, for a Boy Scout project, and Houston County High School art students decorated the vehicle three years ago. Teachers volunteer their time to stock and offer the moving media center.

After such great success the first year, Wood said they opened it up to other local primary and elementary schools. Lake Joy Elementary, Lake Joy Primary, Miller Elementary and David Perdue Elementary schools all participated this summer during the months of June and July.

The bookmobile has stops in select neighborhoods Tuesday through Thursday up until the end of July at Briarcliff Park, Robins Landing Apartment Complex, Redfox Run subdivision, High Grove Apartments, Richmond Apartments, corner of Maplewood and Elmwood and Castlegate Commons Apartments.

Wood said Wednesday that they coordinate with the school nutrition van, and they remain on site for about 45 minutes, depending on the number of children who stop by to check out a book. Any student is welcome to climb on board the reading bus to select reading material. The focus of the bookmobile is to offer books primarily to children who do not have the opportunity to visit the library. The students return the books that they have read and then have the opportunity to check out more books, which Wood commented that the books are returned in really good condition.

“It’s huge for them to be able to self-choose,” she said. “Access is the biggie. They won’t experience that summer reading loss.”

Wood said about 25 to 30 elementary and primary students normally participate, which they provide not only books, but also candy and SEAM (science, engineering, art and math) kits. Parent volunteer Carla Bohnstedt also mentioned that to help with reading at local Title 1 schools, she wants to start a book exchange in their libraries during the school year.

When asked how they were able to collect the books for the bookmobile, Wood said several schools held a book drive, as well as the county put money toward it years ago and some books came from Goodwill.

“We love it,” she said about the program.

“I love the connection that we keep up with the students in the summer,” Wood added, noting it’s also a way to show them that somebody cares.

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