If you see a large tricycle somewhere in Philadelphia — maybe at a youth sporting event, maybe on your block — its red front compartment loaded with books, propelled by a serious-looking cyclist, there’s a correct response.
Shout “Yo, Tyler!!!”
That would be Tyler Gittelman, a South Philly Library employee and the program manager of the Book Bike, who travels to community events around the city, like the Healthy Kids Running Series, with a selection of titles that patrons are able to check out on the spot.
The bike often has free books to be given out as well, and you can even sign up for a library card and learn about resources the library system has available. Talk about out-of-the-box thinking …
That was the plan.
“I wanted to make the library a little more approachable and get out of the institution of the building of the library and do outreach in a fun and eye-catching way, that wouldn’t be as intimidating to folks who maybe have feelings about the library in one way or another,” said Library Supervisor and Book Bike co-creator Kate Eckert.
Bike beginnings
It began in 2016. Eckert was a children’s librarian with an idea, and a coworker realized that two other librarians — Link Ross and Becky Shaknovich — were imagining the same concept. Together, the three requested a grant from the library system’s now-defunct “Strategic Initiatives” department and secured funding for the program.
At first, the librarians would take turns bringing the bike to different parks around the city. Then community members started requesting its presence at various events and fairs, Eckert said.
The bike itself is a modified cargo trike made by Philadelphia-based Haley Tricycles, which claims it as North America’s first known book bike. Library staff members handle maintenance or, if necessary, bring it to local bike shops using branch funds, according to Ross.
Gittelman, who started as the bike’s operator this past spring, said he can transport roughly 100 books in the front compartment that becomes a display shelf when opened. He curates the selection according to the event he is bringing the bike to and the time of year.
“Before Halloween, I rocked it,” Gittelman said. “I went way too hard trying to cover all of my bases. We hit Back to School. We hit Autumn, we hit Halloween and all other timely holidays, and I had a book for everyone. They asked for it, I had it.”
“It’s really fun to just produce a book out of nowhere for a kid, because it replicates that feeling you get walking into a library as a kid, looking for your favorite book and now you find your favorite book, only you’re at the park,” he said.
Gittelman said operating the Book Bike is the most fun job he’s ever had, and if it ever became a full-time position, he’d jump at the opportunity.
“Every part of the experience, from riding it around the city, to surprising kids at whatever fair we’re at, is just joyful,” he said. “There is no part of it that does not spark pure, unadulterated joy. It’s the joy of movement, the joy of reading, the joy of doing very important, community-based work. There’s no part of that that isn’t fun for me.”
To Eckert’s knowledge, there haven’t been discussions about making a full-time Book Bike position, but it’s something she said she’d love to see to “maximize” the bike’s reach.
For now, to request the Book Bike to come to an outdoor event, community members can email bookbike@freelibrary.org.
Eckert’s job as supervisor means she no longer has time to operate the Book Bike. Still, she is “really pleased and content” to see it taking on a life of its own.
“I’m really glad that this thing persists and continues to bring joy to people, especially the workers of the Free Library who get to ride it around town, and the community as well,” she said.
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2024-12-31 13:05:44
