Outreach ‘OWL’ and mobile services expand Davenport library reach; staff logged thousands of visits and checkouts in 2024

Davenport City library outreach staff told trustees on Jan. 21 that the library’s mobile outreach unit known as the OWL and related programs reached large numbers of residents in 2024, with hundreds of outreach events, thousands of checkouts and strong partnerships with local organizations.

Brittney Peacock, who introduced the outreach report as head of community outreach services, said the outreach team visited 94 separate facilities in 2024, held 728 outreach programs and events, and recorded about 14,008 checkouts tied to outreach activities. The team also read approximately 1,300 story sessions to area day cares and preschools during the year.

Peacock described the OWL as a “library on wheels” rather than a traditional bookmobile: staff unload a curated collection from the OWL at outside sites, set up open-air service, and make items available for checkout. The OWL carries a dedicated collection tailored to neighborhood needs, and staff now run an internal report each morning so items requested for outreach can be delivered and checked out promptly.

Outreach services highlighted several regular programs: deposit collections (monthly selections of up to about 20 items delivered to partner sites, including senior centers and early-learning centers), multiple story-time stops (about 10 regular venues), pop-up libraries at senior facilities and community sites, and book clubs adapted for large-print or audio formats. Peacock said outreach also supports Little Free Libraries at three locations and has installed three StoryWalks in local parks.

Staff cited partnerships with community organizations including Empowering Abilities, local parks and recreation, early-learning centers, and regional library-sharing networks (Rivershare). Peacock said an Autistic-and-Loves pop-up partnership will begin in January as a low-barrier monthly outreach site with the goal of learning from families how to make library spaces more welcoming.

Outreach also produces a library podcast: staff reported 37 episodes published and 3,049 downloads as of the most recent count. Peacock said the team is pursuing additional summer staffing support and continues to expand programming at parks and public events.

Trustees asked about scheduling and requests for OWL visits; Peacock said any individual or organization may request the OWL online and the outreach team can accommodate neighborhood events and smaller gatherings.

Peacock credited a team of three outreach staff (two full-time, one part-time) and regular support from other library departments for delivering the program. She said the outreach unit’s work is focused on meeting residents where they are and increasing access to library services outside the branches.

The board did not take any formal action on outreach during the meeting; trustees thanked staff and asked that the outreach calendar and procedures for requesting the OWL be shared with the board and posted to the library website.