Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile

The Franklin County Early Childhood Advisory Council was awarded an Early Learning Opportunities Grant in 2002. Somewhere in that grant proposal, there was a special request: funding to launch a bookmobile – a traveling library whose purpose would be to bring books and fun to all the nooks and crannies of Northwestern Vermont. In the spring of 2003, that funding became a reality, and Deb Grennon became the Literacy Coordinator of the Bookmobile, establishing programs and driving the truck throughout Franklin and Grand Isle Counties.

During the first 14 year the bookmobile grew to include Grand Isle County and became Franklin Grand Isle (FGI) Bookmobile. Participating in numerous community events including Kidz Art in February and Big Rig Day in April and expanding its programming from the daily Story Time on the route to summer programming for kids helped grow the FGI Bookmobile to become the beloved entity within the counties. There have been many special people involved with our programming through the years, drivers, AmeriCorps VISTAs, Vermont Associates, and endless book lovers. This past year had brought many changes to the bookmobile. 

At the end of the 2018/19 school FGI Bookmobile needed to find a new fiscal agent and in July 2019, the FGI Bookmobile was transferred from the Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union to Vermont Adult Learning (VAL). As the new fiscal, VAL is helping to get the Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile set up as an independent organization. Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile has a new staff, a new Board of Directors, and a vision for the future.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic the bookmobile reimagined the services we provide. Like so many organizations we were able to pivot into the virtual space and offer hands free book delivery and virtual programs. We are excited to be back in person and visiting our friends and neighbors again.