HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — We're just at the start of summer break, but some local school districts have already been looking for ways to combat the "summer slide".
A mobile library is doing just that by giving students access to books.
Lake Hamilton School District's Wolf Pack Reading Den has officially hit the road this summer and has been on the move around the district reaching students a little closer to home.
"It's a library on wheels, and it's something neat, it's something special," said Brian Bridges, Lake Hamilton Communications Director.
It is also something that brings smiles to a lot of faces.
"It's very exciting to see the faces of our students and our parents as they board the bus for the first time. Sometimes their mouths drop open because they realize, oh my goodness, this is not a bus, this is a library," Bridges described.
He also explained how they're switching things up a little this year to bring in more students after having a decrease in attendance last summer.
Now, when the bookmobile hits the road each Tuesday, students can expect to see different themes and even giveaways.
"They're also able to get a snack, get a little meal, courtesy of our summer feeding program through the USDA," he added.
Their ultimate goal is to prevent learning loss this summer.
"In the summer, we see sometimes our students not reading as much as they should, and sometimes that'll bring them back one whole grade level. And so hopefully, by coming to the bookmobile, checking out some books, we're able to help bridge that gap and help reduce the amount of slide that we have," he explained.
Alva Hernandez brings her kids back every summer to pick up some books.
"It's really nice to have this from part of the school because the kids are not just on their phones all day," Hernandez said.
She has also seen reading improve their English skills.
"They came [here] without speaking English at all. So they already speak English, and they're doing really, really good. I'm so proud that they are into reading," Hernandez said.
"We want our students to be lifelong learners and lifelong readers, and this is just one piece of that puzzle that we're able to do over the summer months when school's not in session," Bridges added.
The bookmobile is set to run every Tuesday through July 23, 2024. You can find the full schedule by clicking here.