District 103 brings books to its students via bus
Twice a week, Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103 drivers climb into their school bus to begin their routes. However, it isn't children they are picking up. Rather, it is about 150 library books to be dropped off at families' homes.
Since COVID-19 forced learning to take place in children's homes, District 103 library media specialists developed the idea of bringing books to students. Students use the Destiny catalog from Follett School Solutions to order their books. Staff print out students' names and addresses and packages the books in paper bags for the ride to their home. Drivers place the books next to the front door just like any delivery service does.
Fiction books are most popular among the students who request them.
"Bluestem Award books and popular titles like 'Harry Potter,' 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' 'The Babysitters Club' and 'Dog Man' are ongoing requests at Half Day School," said Becky Morgan, a D103 library media specialist.
Daniel Wright Junior High's Library Media Specialist Tabatha Otto started the D103 program.
"The DW Book Bus is vital to our students' education," she said. "By getting books into the hands of our readers, we are continuing to nourish their love of reading actual print materials, something that is not at all lost on our middle school readers who strongly desire this format ...
"The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We have had several books returned with small notes of appreciation from several of our DW parents. It's a complete win-win for our DW parents, students and staff," Otto said.
"I like that the book bus program successfully transports books to your house for you to read while respecting the 6-feet protocol," eighth-grader Alexandra Inman said. "It also makes me feel important to have a personal delivery to my door steps."
The school district serves approximately 1,821 students in grades early childhood through eighth from the communities of Lincolnshire and Prairie View and portions of Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Mettawa, Riverwoods and Lake Forest.
Students attend Laura B. Sprague, Half Day and Daniel Wright junior high schools. Books can be returned to the front office of any school.