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By STEVE KOLOWICH
Staff Writer Thursday, June 28, 2007

Staff Writer

When Waterville Public Library Circulation Aide Steve Brittingham accepted the charge of mounting the library's newly christened BookBike and hauling a cart full of books from the library to North Street recreation area, he didn't count on 90-degree heat.

"I didn't expect it to be this hot!" Brittingham, 55, exclaimed after pulling up to the park with 324 paperbacks in tow.

The library staff conceived the BookBike program, which made its debut Wednesday, as a way to reach out to kids who may not have included a trip to the library into their summer plans, said Library Director Sarah Sugdon.

"Tons of research shows that if kids read just two books over the summer, they'll maintain their reading skills," she said. "Teachers have said that it can often be until Thanksgiving that [students] are able to get their reading skills back up to where they were the previous spring."

Sugdon described the BookBike as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to the BookMobile, a vehicle deployed by some other libraries.

"We know that in this community as in other communities, not every kid can get to the library sometimes," she said.

Just after 11 a.m., Brittingham unloaded his bounty from cardboard boxes and canvas bags, propping up rows of literature neatly atop a wooden picnic table in the shade -- Roald Dahl classics to Berenstein Bears adventures and "Far Side" comic anthologies.

Wearing a Gumby T-shirt and white corduroys with a red handkerchief cinching up one pant leg, he hardly fit the image of a typical librarian. Still, he attracted a "mob" of customers on his first day, some of whom even brought their library cards.

By the end of two hours, Brittingham had loaned out 34 books. He had remarked earlier that based on the muggy weather, he would have been satisfied if a single patron approached his makeshift library.

"I did way better than I expected," he said as he repacked his wares and prepared for the return trip.

The librarian-cyclist plans to set up shop at the recreation area each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the rest of the summer, excluding next week's holiday.

The BookBike's literature, which targets children in preschool through sixth grade, was donated by friends and patrons of the Waterville Public Library, according to Children's Librarian Kathleen Kenny, who helped spearhead the program.

The bike was donated by an anonymous "mom who brings her kids to the library," she said. Kevin Joseph of Joseph's Market and Jim Mathieu of Mathieu's Cycle and Fitness in Oakland contributed the cart, Kenny said.

She added that the library continues to welcome any book donations.

Although the BookBike technically only loans to Waterville residents registered with the library, Brittingham does not plan to enforce this policy with an iron fist.

"I can give some away if I want," he said. "It's really up to me."

"We are going to be making sure that all kids, whether they' live in Waterville or not, have access to books," said Sugdon. Though this may mean the library will lose track of some books, "It's more important to us that kids read."

"Today's run was pretty good for a start," said Kenny, "and after we've done a few more runs, we'll know whether we're making it easier for kids to keep reading this summer."

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