For immediate release:
EDMONTON, AB, June 21, 2017 – Think food truck, but with early literacy and the latest in digital technology on the menu.
The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) celebrated a full fleet of four epl2go Literacy Vans with 1,300 students and their families at a Free Footie tournament on Wednesday.
“EPL’s literacy vans mean location or transportation isn’t a barrier for any Edmontonian when it comes to using the library,” said Pilar Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of the Edmonton Public Library. “We are thrilled to have four of these ‘library on wheels’ on the road, bringing gifts of knowledge, literacy and more where they’re needed and wanted most.”
epl2go Literacy Vans connect Edmontonians in new neighbourhoods and underserved communities with early literacy and digital technology services, making library programs and resources accessible where customers are – schools, parks, senior centres, hospitals, community leagues and even soccer pitches.
Both EPL and Free Footie serve communities that face barriers. By partnering with Free Footie, EPL is able to reach students and families they might not otherwise.
“The literacy vans embody what Free Footie is all about – removing barriers,” said Leah Cavanagh, Program Manager for Free Footie. “One of the biggest barriers between kids who play Free Footie and other sport programming is their ability to physically access the program. We bring the league to the kids and, with the literacy vans, EPL brings the library to all of us.
“Amazing things happen kids are free to play, and whether they're playing soccer with Free Footie or playing pretend with EPL, it's about giving kids space to just be kids – I think that’s what makes this partnership so strong.”
The four literacy vans were made possible through support from generous donors. The first literacy van rolled out three years ago, and there are now four – one for each quadrant of the city.
The vans will bring the library to Edmontonians all over the city throughout the summer, creating pop-up spaces to get a library card, return a book, play with a robot, take part in a program and more. More information about programming, including how to suggest more stops for the vans, can be found at epl.ca/epl2go.
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About the Edmonton Public Library
The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is proud to be 2014 Library of the Year! We’ve come a long way since 1913 when books were all you could find on our shelves… and we’re just getting started! Today, EPL carries everything you care about. We are Edmonton’s largest lender of all manner of information and entertainment. Our professionally trained staff take you beyond Google with the knowledge, discernment and desire to help you navigate a universe of information. The second most visited place in Edmonton, every year EPL hosts over 16.9 million in-branch and online visits across our 20 branches and website. We deliver our incredible content to you everywhere – in the library, at home or on your handheld device. Unmatched access and unrivalled value – that is today’s EPL. EPL is a registered charity and relies on donations to enhance services. Spread the words. www.epl.ca/give
For more information, contact
Heather McIntyre
Communications Specialist
Edmonton Public Library
780-496-7055
hmcintyre@epl.ca
