The Frisco ISD Library Services Department is rolling out a new program to expand access to the library for FISD students in nearby cities, even when school's out. The project, which has been in development over the last year, aims to provide library services to students regardless of their location or time of year — and they're bringing the whole district along for the ride.
Introducing the Frisco ISD Book Bus, a mobile library and yearlong passion project uniting departments across the District. Once Library Services started reaching out, staff members and local business owners were eager to pitch in.
Turning the dream into a reality took a true team effort. The Transportation Department donated the bus, which was headed for retirement, and then brought it back to life. Facilities and Construction Services coordinated vendors to replace the flooring and ceiling and assist with window work. Graphic design students at the Career and Technical Education Center competed to design the bus wrap, which 360 Wraps will provide when finalized and H-E-B is funding through a donation. The Frisco Education Foundation helped Butler with fundraising, and Lone Star Furnishings donated custom-built shelving.
“It has been genuinely uplifting to see how many people are coming together to make this happen,” said Amanda Butler, director of Library Services.
The book bus was first conceived to promote literacy and expand access to books, but it has grown into even more. As the District continues to find new ways to connect with families, Library Services moved forward with Butler’s idea, which had a new purpose: Giving families another reason to enroll in and love FISD.
“In the age of technology and integrating that into a child’s life, books are still very important to our community, and that’s the consensus across the board,” Butler said. “We want every child to have access to library materials. Reading builds a capacity for imagination, adventure, understanding, empathy — so many of the traits that we consider future-ready qualities.”
An FISD roadshow
What can children expect when they step up to the book bus? Butler and her team have big plans.
“The book bus is a place to find books, but it’s also a traveling library experience,” Butler said.
That experience includes read-alouds with librarians and other District staff, a slide to exit the back of the bus, and cozy hangout spaces outside for parents and their children. She hopes to add a makerspace and other programming, too.
But before they can visit, families need to know where the bus will be. Butler said other districts’ experiences have shown that timing and advance notice make a big difference in participation.
“We’ll share updates through our social media channels and other communication tools so families can plan to join us,” she said.
Early literacy
Beyond access, the book bus also supports a broader goal: strengthening early literacy. In the modern era, those efforts have expanded as technology has.
“School libraries focus on information literacy, too,” Butler said. “It’s important that a library flexes and changes as literacy does, and develops as students develop.”
Younger students love reading — “it’s a developmental passion,” Butler said. As students get older, their relationship with reading and the library can change, as other interests compete for their time.
"As students grow, their interest in the library changes," she said. "Middle school librarians meet that change with things like cool programming, working to keep students connected to the library."
By high school, students are refining their ability to evaluate and navigate information — distinguishing between primary sources and opinion, and developing a deeper understanding of the world around them.
“That’s a cool part about literacy,” Butler said. “It fills in the gaps in the shape of a student as they grow and make their way through Frisco ISD. It’s so important.”
Be on the lookout for the Frisco ISD Book Bus starting this summer — coming to a neighborhood near you.
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- Rachel McReynolds