Austin Schools Go Big: Meet ALVAN, the Book-Slinging Van!

Buckle up, folks! Austin school librarians are upping their game next summer with a new set of wheels. The Assistance League of Austin just gifted the district a slick new ride to deliver summer reading books.

Behold ALVAN, a tricked-out van dressed like a giant yellow school bus. This bad boy comes with all the bells and whistles, plus cool book graphics on the windows. On Monday, the nonprofit handed over the keys to Shannon Pearce, the district's library media services honcho, at a shindig in North Austin.

This summer book bonanza, now in its 10th year, hooks kids up with free books to keep their brains sharp over the break. Pearce says, "We have so many students who primarily access books through the school library... Research shows that if kids read just five books during the summer, they'll maintain their reading level."

Before and during summer, the bookmobile hits up schools and community centers, letting kids pick their own reads. Pearce adds, "When kids select their own books, they're more likely to read." Over a decade, they've given out around 20,000 books!

In the past, the district rented school buses for deliveries, but wrangling a ride could be tough. No more disappointment, kiddos—ALVAN is here to save the day!

Linda Noy, president of the Austin Assistance League chapter, says the $55,000 gift should do the trick. "We hit on the idea of, 'Wouldn't it be great if they had a dedicated bus?'" They even threw in rolling book racks and outfitted the van to perfection.

Last year, the nonprofit also donated about $5,000 worth of new books. Cha-ching!

So, Austin kids, get ready to cruise with ALVAN and dive into those books. Happy reading, y'all! ��ountry-flags-us)🇺🇸📚🚌