TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Library on Tuesday introduced its latest innovation in community outreach—the STREAM Vehicle, a mobile library designed to bring educational programming with cutting-edge technology, creativity and fun to youth and families across Baltimore County. Along with traditional services, this library on wheels offers hands-on experiences with makerspaces, fiber arts, virtual reality, gaming, music creation and traditional arts and crafts.

The library’s goal is for the activities on this vehicle to closely mirror the experience youth have visiting one of its 19 branches. This truck has room to house books from the library’s collection and provides opportunities for 21st century library programming. STREAM activities build foundational skills of problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical reasoning while promoting curiosity, creativity, innovation and exploration while often working in a collaborative environment.

“The mission of Baltimore County Public Library is to provide spaces and opportunities where people can explore, learn, create and connect. This STREAM vehicle exemplifies our commitment to our mission and the communities we serve,” said CEO Sonia Alcántara-Antoine. “This vehicle is breaking down barriers of access by reaching families and kids where they are and providing access to books and technology that support discovery, play and learning.”

Planning for a new mobile vehicle started in 2019 by asking bookmobile users what they would like to see in a new mobile unit. It quickly became apparent that there was a need and a want for educational programming to accompany the books. After a pandemic delay, the custom-built STREAM vehicle is now ready to hit Baltimore County roads, bringing exciting new opportunities to communities that need library services the most.

Features of the vehicle:

• Physical collections for youth and families.
• A rotation of activities with maker technologies, including Cricut and heat press.
• Fiber arts, virtual reality, gaming, coding, music creation, traditional arts and crafts.

Equipment on the vehicle includes:

• Flatscreen TVs
• iPads
• Laptop
• Musical instruments, including a theremin and digital synthesizer effects builder
• Nintendo Switch
• PlayStation 5
• Virtual reality headset

“Libraries play a crucial role in creating vibrant and thriving communities, and Baltimore County Public Library’s new STREAM vehicle is another example of these community hubs evolving and meeting residents where they are,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “This new mobile branch will provide modern resources to everyone, eliminate barriers to STREAM education and continue to ensure that Baltimore County is a great–and equitable–place to live, work and raise a family.”

This vehicle is made possible thanks to the generous support of Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library, with funding from the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, PNC Foundation, David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Maryland State Library, and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and BGE.

The STREAM Vehicle will be making stops after school hours throughout the county in areas where young people typically have less access to library services.

Photo via BCPL