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The Des Moines Public Library is getting a new outreach van, thanks to the Rotary Club of Des Moines Foundation.
The Rotary Club of Des Moines Foundation awarded a $40,000 2020-21 Community Grant to the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. Grants are given annually to nonprofits and charitable organizations for projects that positively impact Greater Des Moines.
The grant was awarded at a Rotary Club of Des Moines Foundation event last week, during which the Des Moines Public Library’s mascot, Rosie Reader, was anointed an honorary Rotarian.
“We are thrilled to be able to replace a well-used 15-year-old van to help library staff create opportunities by encouraging early literacy and love of reading and learning for all ages, building awareness of the many free library resources, and building relationships to empower people,” said Dory Briles, Executive Director of the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. The Des Moines Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds and advocates for the Des Moines Public Library.
The library will use the $40,000 Rotary Foundation grant to purchase a new outreach van — the Rotary Rosie Reader van. Beginning next year, the van will bring grant-funded laptops, internet hot spots, and more into Des Moines communities for people to check out and use at home. In addition, the Rotary Rosie Reader van will be used to visit daycares, schools, assisted living facilities, and more to deliver storytimes, books, and other library programs and services to people outside library walls.
Pictured above, from left to right: Rotary Club grants committee member Ganesh Ganpat, Des Moines Public Library Foundation Executive Director Dory Briles, Des Moines Public Library Director Sue Woody, Rosie the Reader, grants committee member Jessica Worley, grants committee member Ashley Hemphill, and grants committee member Dave Kenworthy.