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Community members gather for a tour of Pleasanton’s new community outreach vehicle, Zippy, which made its first appearance outside of the library on May 31 during the city’s Summer Reading Kickoff event. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) 
Pleasanton’s youngest residents were able to check out books from inside of the city’s mobile library. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) 
The city received over $20,000 in combined grant funding for books to be added to Zippy’s collection. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) 
Residents of all ages check out the mobile library’s book collection during the vehicle’s first appearance in the community. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) 
Zippy is a a custom-built, 28-foot step van that is equipped with book cars, a wheelchair lift, internet access, a sound system, air conditioning and a LCD monitor. (Photo by Chuck Deckert)
Zippy, Pleasanton’s first-of-its-kind mobile library, made its debut appearance this spring — three years after the city first received state funding for the van.
The focus of the outreach vehicle will be to not just serve the entire city, but particularly the population of residents who might be of lower income or who do not have the means to get to the library as often as others do, city officials said in a press release last month.
“At their core, public libraries are about access: access to information, to technology, to opportunity, and to community,” Nick Binzoni, communications specialist for the city’s Library and Recreation Department, told the Weekly. “But we know that for a variety of reasons — transportation challenges, work schedules, language barriers or simply a lack of awareness — not everyone is able to walk through the doors of a physical library building.”
“Zippy provides an opportunity for us to reimagine what access can look like,” Binzoni added. “It allows us to meet people where they are, especially in underserved neighborhoods that may not have had consistent access to library services.”
The city first recognized the need for such an outreach vehicle back in 2021 after a citywide community survey revealed a “correlation between residents’ proximity to, and overall satisfaction with, library services”.
“As distance from the library increased, residents’ satisfaction decreased,” according to the city’s press release. “Compared to those living in the closest proximity to the library, overall satisfaction dropped by 29% among respondents who live the furthest distances from the library.”
In January 2022, a year after recognizing this need, the state awarded the city with a $175,000 grant from the California State Library for the purchase and design of the outreach vehicle, Zippy.
Zippy is a custom-built, 28-foot step van that is equipped with book cars, a wheelchair lift, internet access, a sound system, air conditioning and a LCD monitor. Inside the van is interchangeable shelving that will “allow staff to transform the space at each service location to best meet community needs”.
According to the city, the grant was aimed at helping 15 cities, including Pleasanton, implement “new ways to bring literacy, technology, and other services to those who face challenges visiting their local library”.
In the following years, despite facing several setbacks ranging from manufacturing and safety modifications to training and compliance with state regulations, the city was able to obtain additional funding for the vehicle. One $12,250 grant from the Black Gold Cooperative Library System helped pay for exterior design services and books while a separate $10,000 grant from the Friends of the Pleasanton Library helped pay for additional books.
According to the city press release, the vehicle staffed by trained library personnel will be deployed during community events, neighborhood pop-ups and school visits and will provide resources ranging from lending books and STEAM kits, to offering sports equipment and interactive programming.
However, budgeting for the continued use of the vehicle is one major issue that has recently impacted the deployment of Zippy.
According to Binzoni, due to the city’s recent budget challenges and the City Council’s latest direction to make cuts to the library department in the soon-to-be adopted city budget, Zippy’s schedule has been scaled back to one stop per month.
“We’re making the most of this opportunity by relying on existing staff to drive and operate the vehicle, and the programs offered at each stop will be drawn from our current suite of library and recreation offerings,” Binzoni said.
“Our goal is to provide the same high-quality, trusted services that the community knows and values — just in new, more accessible locations,” he added. “As resources allow, we hope to expand Zippy’s reach over time. For now, each stop represents a meaningful step toward bringing library and recreation services into the heart of every Pleasanton neighborhood.”
He said despite the library department currently navigating a “period of transition”, staff have been able to secure three scheduled visits for Zippy: June 26 at Kottinger Village, July 11 at Concerts in the Park and July 24 at Ken Mercer Sports Park.
“Beyond these dates, we don’t yet have a finalized schedule,” Binzoni said. “However, our team is working on a phased approach that focuses on reaching areas with limited access to library services, and we hope to expand our visits to schools and community hubs as resources allow.”
He also noted that the community’s response to Zippy’s first appearance outside of the downtown library on May 31 during the city’s Summer Reading Kickoff event was “overwhelmingly positive” and that many residents had the chance to excitedly check out the new vehicle. He said many were thrilled about the vehicle’s scheduled appearances and that they appreciated the city’s efforts to expand access to library and recreation resources
“We’re committed to making sure everyone in Pleasanton can benefit from the resources the library provides — not just those who live nearby or have the means to visit,” Binzoni said. “This vehicle is an extension of our mission to serve the whole community, and it’s a step toward ensuring equity in how we deliver those services.”
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