Your Library on Wheels: New Schoolmobile Brings Books to Parish Students
The Natchitoches Parish Library (NPL) has placed a new schoolmobile into service, extending free educational resources into the schools and neighborhoods of Natchitoches Parish and ensuring that distance and transportation are never barriers to learning.
With most parish schools no longer hosing on-site libraries, the Schoolmobile fills a critical gap for students across the community. The vehicle currently makes bi-weekly visits to seven parish schools, delivering a curated collection of books and magazines selected to support student learning, from school essays and book reports to reading mastery goals. Any school interested in scheduling visits for its students is encouraged to contact the NPL to get started. During the summer months, the Schoolmobile extends its reach beyond the classroom, visiting community parks and partner organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club with story times, crafts, and opportunities for children to check out materials throughout the parish.
The new vehicle is larger and more capable than its predecessor, equipped with an onboard generator, exterior screen and speakers, and an electric wheelchair lift to serve patrons with limited mobility. Its value was demonstrated almost immediately after entering service: when renovations to the NPL's Main Branch coincided with Natchitoches Parish Schools' winter break, the Schoolmobile was deployed to the Main Branch to ensure children maintained uninterrupted access to books and educational resources.
"These vehicles are what your library dollars look like in action," said Alen Niette, NPL Deputy Director. "We want to bring library services to those that can't make it to us. That's what the people of this parish deserve, and that's what we're committed to delivering." The new Schoolmobile joins the NPL's Bookmobile, which entered service in 2025 and now maintains 26 bi-weekly stops across the parish. It also serves residents at assisted living facilities and supports the Library Express program, bringing the library directly to homebound patrons who cannot travel to a branch. Both mobile branches regularly participate in parades, festivals, and community gatherings, reaching hundreds of residents and delivering NPL's free services to people right where they are.
Both vehicles were funded entirely through NPL's existing millage, with no bond required, a testament to the library's responsible stewardship of community resources. As the millage renewal comes to a vote this Saturday, May 16, the NPL encourages every parish resident to learn more about the full range of free services their library provides by visiting millage.natlib.org. For more information about the Schoolmobile, Bookmobile, and other NPL offerings, visit natlib.org or call 318.357.3280.
