The Traverse Area District Library and the Bay Area Transportation Authority have teamed up to bring free bus passes to Grand Traverse County and parts of Leelanau County through the library systems, along with a new bus in Traverse City that functions as a Little Free Library.
A Little Free Library is a "take one, leave one" for books, generally stationed around towns and cities for communal use. The TADL Book Bus brings that concept to the road, with a designated public transport bus carrying books for all ages.
"In the Book Bus are these little seat-back lending libraries," said Eric Linguar, one of the managers at BATA. "And they have a variety of books from children's books to adult and you can either read the books on the bus or you can borrow one just like you would like in a lending library."
There are also QR codes around the inside of the bus to give riders access to streaming for a wider access of books, along with music and movies. Anyone interested in signing up for a library card can do so through the codes as well.
TADL's Heather Brady said they've already had to restock the bus with new books, indicating interest in the new program.
"Literacy is hugely important. It determines the quality of life that people have, and I think a lot of people think of reading as something only affecting children. But that's not the case," Brady said. "If you are not a strong reader as a teen or an adult, it affects your earning potential. It affects the way you may understand the instructions that come with your prescription medicines or safety manuals. There's all kinds of reasons why people should be strong readers."
Data from the National Literacy Institute shows 54% of all adults in the United States are reported to have a reading level below 5th grade standards. Michigan is no exception, with the state sitting in the bottom 25% for literacy rates in the country. According to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, the United States could see a $240 billion boost in the economy if the average person's literacy skill raised by just one percent.
Linguar told WCMU the Authority is always looking for ways to expand their partnership with the library, combining public transportation and the love of reading and education.
"It's only been on the road now for about two weeks now, but people are spotting it and seeing it around town," Linguar said. "We've been trying to take it to community activities too, so if we have an opportunity to go to like a school or a farmers market, we'll take that bus to those events."
A stationary Little Free Library is scheduled to be placed in front of BATA's main transfer station on Hall Street late next week, giving those not on the Book Bus a way to participate.
Short-term bus passes are also available for check out from multiple locations on BATA's routes, helping people try out public transport for the first time or be able to get around.
