January 8, 2014
“LILLY” UNVELING
NEW WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE EXPANDS LIBRARY SERVICES TO
SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AS PART OF THE ONE CITY, ONE LIBRARY
PROJECT
Worcester, MA, January, 8, 2014 – Children and teachers at the Lincoln Street
Elementary School today were treated to the first of many visits from “Lilly,” the
Worcester Public Library’s brand-new bookmobile. The unveiling was attended
by city and school officials, community leaders, students, teachers and parents.
Following the ceremony, students and the general public were welcomed
aboard Lilly to explore the new books and technologies.
Lilly, much like the Worcester Public Library’s existing bookmobile, Libby, will
have a collection of more than 2,000 children’s materials – books, audio books
and DVDs as well as e-tablets and a touch screen computer. Lilly will be the
second mobile library in the Library Express service offered by the public library,
and will be dedicated to servicing Worcester Public Schools. With the addition
of this new service, Lilly will visit the city’s elementary schools once every four
weeks throughout the school year as well as Headstart (part of Worcester Public
Schools), after-school programs, and childrens’ community events.
"The Worcester Public Schools is fortunate to have this wonderful partnership with
the City of Worcester, Worcester Public Library, Library Foundation and the
College of the Holy Cross as we continue to move forward to improve literacy
skills for our students and their families," comments Mark Berthiaume,
Communication and School Support Coordinator for the Worcester Public
Schools.
The addition of a second mobile library originated as part of the One City, One
Library project, which aims to expand library services at Worcester’s elementary
schools with the goal of improving literacy among school-aged children.
Funding for Lilly was made possible through a donation from The United Way of
Central MA, while the books and technologies were funded through a grant
from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The goal of Lilly is to
provide library services to public schools that do not have access or have
limited access to library services.
"I am proud that the United Way of Central Massachusetts was able to use our
community advancement fund to grant the funds necessary to purchase Lilly. I
am excited that children – in Worcester’s public schools AND in out-of-schooltime programs and centers – will have increased access to books and
that literacy will be promoted," said Timothy J. Garvin, CEO of United Way of
Central Massachusetts.
The addition of a second Library Express also means that Libby, the original
mobile library, will be able visit more neighborhoods, community events, and
children’s organizations. Additional locations will be added to the Library Express
service as the demand grows. The library seeks suggestions and asks you to
share on their Facebook page/Worcester Public Library.
“Launching this new bookmobile is another great achievement in support of the
One City, One Library initiative, with the goal of connecting every elementary
school with access to library services and materials,” said Elizabeth Giangrande,
Communications Specialist for the library. “We are very grateful to our sponsors
for their partnership and generosity, and for the great work of the Worcester
Public Library Foundation.”
Lilly and Libby’s schedule can be viewed at
http://www.worcpublib.org/libraryexpress/index.htm
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Christine Murray: 508.799.1656/508.414.7393
Elizabeth Giangrande: 508.799.1694/508.335.7888