"Commuting Library" Hits The Streets

Who says a library can't smart commute, too? The Traverse Area District Library got in on this week's Smart Commute Week celebration by debuting its "Commuting Library," a pedal-powered mobile library in collaboration with Norte! Youth Cycling.

The bike will be stocked with bestsellers and a rotating collection of books tailored to the bike's location. Locations will include local beaches, parks, downtown TC's Friday Night Live events, the Farmer's Market and the Open Space. It will also have a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot provided courtesy of miSpot – which librarians will use to show people how to access the library's digital offerings, research questions and check out books and register library cards for new patrons. A tentative schedule and Summer 2014 route will be posted on the library's website soon.

The bike itself belongs to local bike and library enthusiasts Laura and Bob Otwell. Ty and Johanna Schmidt, founders of Norte! Youth Cycling, will supply the pedal power along with the Otwells while library staff rides alongside.