By Sarah Childers

Bringing the library’s services to the community in style, Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) is excited to announce its new Discovery Outreach Transport, or DOT.

DOT assists the SRLS Outreach Team by transporting staff members and materials for Pop-Up Libraries, storytimes, event visits, and more. Materials on board include 300 books, 150 flyers, 150 pieces of swag, library cards and applications, games, craft supplies, and more. With an original design as vibrant as the SRLS community, DOT has become an important part of the SRLS Outreach Team.

"With DOT, our outreach department has found a powerful new way to serve the SRLS community,” says Lisa Mosley, SRLS Outreach Manager. “We're connecting with seniors in their living communities, children in local parks, and patrons of all ages at regional festivals, ensuring the library's resources are accessible directly to them, wherever they are."

The goal of DOT and the SRLS Outreach Team is to meet community members where they are and connect with those who do not or cannot visit a physical library location often. Regularly attending community events, DOT and the SRLS Outreach Team work to create awareness within the community about SRLS, educate the community about library services, and bring new users to SRLS with a focus on underserved communities. Outreach events include Pop-Up Libraries, Pop-Up Storytimes, Literacy & STEM Nights at local schools, festival visits, and more.

In addition to outreach events, the SRLS Outreach Team offers the Shelf-Direct Service, directly mailing collection items to patrons who are unable to visit a physical library location. This service helps to ensure that the library continues to be accessible to those who cannot physically visit a SRLS location.

Serving Cherokee, Pickens, and Gilmer counties, SRLS is made up of eight library locations and has a total service population of 355,431 community members. Guided by open access, service excellence, community engagement, and continuous learning, SRLS has a vision to be the community’s dynamic destination for discovery. The mission of SRLS is to connect community members with ideas and opportunities to explore, learn, and create. To learn more about SRLS, please visit our website: https://www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org.