Joliet Public Library's New $269,000 Outreach Van Is Grant Funded

JOLIET — The Joliet Public Library announced on Friday morning that it is happy to unveil their new outreach van, funded by the Will County American Rescue Plan Act grant.

The van will allow staff to travel to different corners of our city, bringing invaluable services to everyone, especially those without access to the library.

The outreach van, nicknamed “JPL On-the-Go” is a state-of-the-art vehicle equipped with resources to meet our diverse community needs. Features include mobile Wi-Fi, a collection of books, a tv screen, exterior awning, and a bubble machine. The van will be used to visit area schools, daycares, parks, neighborhoods, senior facilities, and community events.

“We are thrilled and so grateful for the generous support of Will County through the ARPA grant,” said Executive Director of the Joliet Public Library, Megan Millen. “With our JPL-on-the-go vehicle, we will be able to get materials into more hands, and services to more of our residents.”

The van was funded through a $269,000 grant from Will County, using federal American Rescue Plan Act allocations.

The grant is one of several county-wide aimed at expanding library services.

“The Joliet Public Library’s new outreach van is a strong example of the transformational impact of Will County’s ARPA allocations,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “Libraries provide invaluable services to people of all ages and serve as hubs of learning in our communities. This outreach vehicle helps break down barriers for Joliet residents to access those services.”

Visitors won’t step in the van, rather library staff will come to them.

For more information about the outreach van and its schedule, contact the library’s Outreach Coordinator, Val Devine, at vdevine@jolietlibrary or visit jolietlibrary.org.