Emporia Public Library’s outreach van will better serve the area, thanks to federal COVID-19 relief funding.
The library has received $25,000 through the American Rescue Plan Act. Spokesman Alex Mosakowski says the funding will let library buy specialized book carts to transport library materials across the area, while Director Robin Newell says the carts are more versatile and sturdy than standard carts.
The outreach van makes several stops a week to rotate books at different locations in town. Also, the van is the center of the new “Library on the Go!” program, which lets residents sign up for a free library card, check out or return books and use free WiFi. “Library on the Go!” is at Flinthills Mall every Thursday from 2-4 pm, as well as the Emporia Farmers Market on the last Saturday of every month and the Olpe Farmers Market on the last Monday of every month.
The van was purchased in 2019.
