Oklahoma Siblings Create Mobile Library For Underprivileged Communities

Growing up in Texas, Teresa Day remembers when a book mobile used to visit her neighborhood when she was in middle school.

"It was a big thing," Day said about the traveling library's weekly visits that she said inspired her siblings and her to become "big readers."

With her mom working and unable to take them, Day said they would’ve had to catch a city bus and a train to get to the closest library.

Instead, the book mobile "made it easy," allowing her to check out "as many books as they wanted" for two weeks at a time before swapping them out for more books.

Those fond memories and her continued love of reading that prompted Day and her three siblings to start Seas the Day mobile library in Oklahoma City where they all currently live.

Day bought an old school bus from a church for $1000 and outfitted it with desks, books, computers and STEM education equipment with the intention of offering afterschool programs to kids in the area.

Instead, Day said, the bus is booked solid for schools, daycares, and apartment complex visits Mondays through Fridays.

The response has been "amazing."

"We go to the apartment complexes for two hours, we're having to rotate every 30 minutes in order for all the kids to get on because we can only fit 20 kids at a time," Day said. 

One of those apartment complexes is a six mile drive to the nearest library, reminding Day of where she grew up.

"Us going to them makes it so easy for them," to get their hands on books and in some cases - access to the internet, Day said.

Seas the Day was recently given a donation of 110 hotspots which Day was able to give out in one community.

"I didn't even realize that having access to to internet was such a big deal," she said.

Day's goals for the new year are to reach as many kids as possible in her community and to get her hands on more STEM equipment and snacks for the kids.

And, of course, putting more smiles on children's faces, which she says is as rewarding for her as it is for them.

"It warms my heart seeing how happy the kids get about it."