Monrovia Reads Van

This vehicle will be staffed Friday, 11am-5pm and Saturday, 10am-12pm.

The Monrovia Reads Van grew out of a partnership between the City of Monrovia and the Monrovia Reads organization, a nonprofit that promotes early literacy in the community. Currently in its 6th year of service, this fully customized, electric vehicle makes regular stops at each school in the district during the school year. Staff provide library services and materials to Monrovia’s students, from preschool to high school. It’s also a regular presence at community events and off-site library programs, including the annual Monrovia Days celebration, holiday parade, Traveling Storytime, and the Community Picnic Celebrating Veterans. Since its launch in March 2018, the mobile van has provided services to over 36,000 people, who borrowed nearly 14,000 books across 800 visits. The current electric vehicle was funded by the California State Library’s Shared Vision Grant program in 2020. The Polaris GEM ELXD is fully customized to house the mobile van collection, with built-in shelves and side panels that open to provide shade. The Monrovia Reads Van brings library services and materials out into the community all year round.