Willi library ready to roll
Apr. 13—WILLIMANTIC — The Thread City's downtown library may soon have its own pair of wheels to cruise around in style and deliver library services to locations outside its Main Street site.
Folks with the Willimantic Public Library are asking community members to donate to a crowdfunding campaign for a library " book bike."
The library is looking to purchase a Haley electric tricycle, with a cargo bin, to bring the library and its services out to the community.
The bin will be loaded with books, a laptop, WiFi hotspot and other materials for library patrons.
The bike will appear at community events like the farmers market, 3rd Thursday street festivals, Shaboo Stage performances and the Boom Box Parade.
In addition, library staff members could pedal to schools, daycares, apartment complexes, the senior center, nursing homes, the co-op or the laundromat.
" I'm very excited about the prospect of reaching out to the whole community, especially to people who can't make it to the library," said Willimantic Library Director Dan Paquette in a release issued by the Friends of the Willimantic Public Library.
The campaign opened Monday and closes June 1.
If the campaign reaches its $ 5,500 goal by the deadline, the project will receive a matching grant from Sustainable CT's Community Match Fund.
The total budget of $ 11,000 will cover most or all of the expenses of the Book Bike
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I'm very excited about the prospect of reaching out to the whole community, especially to people who can't make it to the library.
Willimantic Library Director Dan Paquette
