Pleasanton Library Mobile Van 'Zippy' Will Tour City Monthly

PLEASANTON, CA — This summer, Pleasanton Library is coming to you, in the form of a 28-foot step van named Zippy. Zippy, which was made possible by a $175,000 grant from the California State Library, is an outreach vehicle that will travel around the city with books, STEAM kits, sports equipment, Wi-Fi, and more. The goal of the program is to bring library services across Pleasanton, which has only one library despite its large size and population.

“Zippy is a game-changer for how we deliver services and engage with the community,” Director of Library and Recreation Heidi Murphy said in a statement. “With this outreach vehicle, we are breaking down traditional barriers and reimagining access by moving beyond building walls and into the heart of every neighborhood. We are hopeful that Zippy will help drive us further toward our vision of inspiring a vibrant community where everyone belongs.”

For the moment, Zippy will make one trip around the city per month. In addition to library materials, it has library staff on-board, HVAC, a sound system, a 55" LCD monitor, Wi-Fi, and a wheelchair lift. It also features moveable shelves, which allows staff to transform the space at each service location to best meet community needs.

Zippy will officially debut at the Library and Recreation Summer Reading Program kickoff on Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pleasanton Library. The community can view a ribbon cutting, take tours of Zippy, and sign up for the Summer Reading Program. A schedule of upcoming monthly Zippy stops is forthcoming.