Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bookmobile topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bookmobile funding, Dollar General agreement and service scope draw questions from council
Summary
Council members asked whether the bookmobile funded with Dollar General support should continue prioritizing charter schools; library staff said the bookmobile began serving MNPS charter schools per an earlier agreement but will be evaluated to consider broader routes to preschools, senior centers and community events.
Council members raised concerns about the bookmobile and Limitless Libraries funding, asking whether Dollar General‑supported services that initially targeted MNPS charter schools should remain limited to charter campuses.
Library leadership said the bookmobile began under an agreement tied to Dollar General funds and was initially focused on charter schools: "So we promised Dollar General that we would use those funds to have a bookmobile to serve the MNPS charter schools," Luke said. Staff added that the bookmobile is already attending community events and that the library will evaluate services and participant numbers to determine whether the bookmobile can also add preschools, senior centers and other community stops.
Council member Cortez and others said they supported access for all students and questioned whether charter schools should be the primary recipients of that funded service. Library staff said the bookmobile positions (two staff paid roughly $190,000 in total earlier through Dollar General funds) are being requested to be moved to Metro payroll to sustain the service if Dollar General support ends.
Staff agreed to provide specific participation numbers upon request; the library said it would follow up with council members by email with usage statistics and further evaluation plans.
