Monroe County Public Library officials say a new "book bike" will help the library to better engage with the community.
MCPL showcased its new eco-friendly bike this week. The bike is a $13,000 investment by the Friends of the Library Foundation, using money from a donation.
"I think it's a great opportunity for us to have conversations about the library outside of the building. Inside of the building, we're often busy and focused on a transaction of checking out a book or helping out with a computer," says Special Audiences Strategist Chris Jackson. "It's sometimes hard to talk about what the library means to folks and what they want from the library."
The bike was manufactured by Organic Transit out of Durham, North Carolina. It features a solar-powered electric motor and reaches a top speed of 20 miles per hour.
Jackson says the bike will also feature a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and a specialized trailer to haul books and other equipment for library programs.