Browse, Borrow, Board: “Why Boston is Turning Bus Stops Into Digital Pop-Up Libraries”

From Smart Cities Dive:

Twenty bus stops across Boston were outfitted last week with quick response, or QR, codes allowing riders to browse and borrow audiobooks, e-books, e-newspapers and e-magazines from the Boston Public Library, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Thursday.

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The pilot — which will run through August — shows the value of simple partnerships between large bureaucracies such as libraries, transportation authorities and cities, said Maddie Webster, program manager in the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, which helped develop the initiative.

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More From the City of Boston:

“We share in the value that knowledge and transportation could both be ‘Free to All.’ This opportunity connects public library and public transit offerings around learning and movement in our city, allowing us to better serve our residents,” said President of the Boston Public Library David Leonard.

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Patrons may check out up to five titles at a time for two-week durations. After two weeks, patrons can scan the QR code again to re-register and checkout new materials. The BPL will be adding new offerings to the site throughout the summer.

See Also: Las Vegas–Clark County Library District Partners with Transportation Commission for Free Digital Content on Buses (2021)

See Also: Illinois: Chicago Public Library and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Announce New Partnership (CPL on CTA) (2016)

See Also: The San Antonio Public Library Begins Using Digital Wallpaper For eBook Lending and Promotion (2014)

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