Ride and Read on the New Sacramento Rolling Library Train
Today, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) and the Sacramento Public Library launched Sacramento’s first Rolling Library Train during an event at the Cosumnes River College Station. The brightly decorated train promotes riding and reading. This is also the first time the interior of a SacRT light rail train has been completely reimagined.
Riders can sit back, relax and read a book while Sacramento’s new rolling Library Train takes them to their destination.
When you step onboard the library train, you will feel like you have been transported into a library as the walls and seatbacks resemble books on shelves. Riders can find hidden gems on those bookshelves featuring QR codes to free downloadable materials from the Sacramento Public Library.
“SacRT and the Sacramento Public Library are community pillars, and it is wonderful to see this partnership highlighting their vital work for our region,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06). “The transformation of a light rail vehicle into a rolling library will bring knowledge and information right to our community members. This unique partnership not only promotes literacy and mobility, but also showcases the abundance of additional resources the library has to offer.”
“SacRT is delighted to be able to provide an innovative and engaging way to advertise free services provided by an important community partner,” said General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “The virtual program reflects our ongoing efforts to expand the role we play in the greater community.”
“This partnership really highlights the nexus between public transit and community value,” said SacRT Board Chair and City of Citrus Heights Councilmember Steve Miller. “Having a virtual rolling library not only provides free access to learning resources and professional development tools, but it also encourages more people to ride transit instead of driving.”
“Between SacRT’s RydeFreeRT program and the Sacramento Public Library’s Summer Youth Leadership Program and Teen Resources, it makes perfect sense for them to join forces with the launch of the Rolling Library,” said SacRT Board Director and Sacramento Councilmember Jay Schenirer. “We are removing barrier for young people to further their education and connecting them with core resources for success.”
“SacRT plays a critical role in the community, not only getting people to work or school, but also helping them reach destinations during their leisure or recreational time,” said Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy. “The Sacramento Rolling Library Train will make it even easier for the community to experience the Sacramento Public Library’s incredible wealth of services and programming focused on early learning, technology and creation.”
“Together with SacRT, we’ve created the Sacramento Rolling Library Train. The idea of taking the library to the streets and removing that barrier to access is really what the Rolling Library Train is about. It encapsulates the ethos of libraries, and why this train is so important. We are meeting people where they are and bringing the library to them,” said Peter Coyl, Library Director and CEO of the Sacramento Public Library.
Riders simply take out their phone, scan the QR code, which takes them to different library resources that they can access for free.
The virtual library train will travel on both the Blue and Gold light rail lines. For customers that would prefer to visit the library in person, visit https://www.sacrt.com/rollinglibrary to find out which SacRT transit services connect to each library location.
A special thank you to Lamar Transit Advertising for its contribution by providing the printing and installation of the interior artwork.
