There are now two BookBuses with separate roles:

 

The Children’s BookBus provides the traditional BookBus library service in key areas of need in Leicester with its weekly stops. Over the years the need for the service has moved from the inner city, where it began in the early 1980s in Belgrave / Highfields, to the outer estates. The areas visited by the BookBus are Saffron Lane / Eyres Monsell, Gilmorton, Thurnby Lodge, Nether Hall, Northfields, Braunstone Frith, New Parks, Mowmacre Hill, Stocking Farm and Braunstone.

 

Generations of Leicester children and parents have waited on their street for the weekly BookBus visit - a free and friendly introduction to books and reading, competitions, information and activities. The areas served have always been targeted by need, providing a street level opportunity to borrow books outside the community library network. A bus, a service which belonged to the children – their BookBus, their space which they could identify with and meet their needs which were always more than the books. The loyalty and the enthusiasm of the children over twenty-seven years shows the importance of such a service and its continued relevance to encourage reading for pleasure amongst Leicester children. Last year, 2007-08, the Children’s BookBus issued 15,563 books, with 1504 active readers and had a total of 16,648 individual visits to the service.

 

The Under 5s’ BookBus serves children 0-5 years in Early Years’ settings throughout the city. This involves visits to Children’s Centres, playgroups, crèches, parent and toddler groups and community events. Its role is to promote early years’ book use and storytelling to children, parents and carers. The BookBus is an imaginative and stimulating environment giving your children a sense of the fun and magic of books and stories. The BookBus offers an active and fun introduction to literacy with storytelling, book loans, information and training / awareness options available for pre-booked visits. The aim is to bring books to life for the children and to show workers / parents / carers that stories can be a significant element in a child’s development. Books and stories contribute to a child’s potential to learn but the key is the fun and excitement demonstrated by our storytellers – Ayesha, Cathy, Jyoti, Anita and Hema.

 

The Under 5s’ BookBus serves at present 140 early years settings, with the Children’s Centres being developed in Leicester, being the focus for giving parents / carers the awareness and confidence to share books and stories with their children at an early age. In 2007-08, 13,657 books were loaned to early years settings and 11,170 children and adults visited the BookBus.

 

Over the twenty-seven years of BookBuses in Leicester, a great number of staff have worked to create the tradition of the BookBus. The guiding aim has remained to share and enjoy books together.