Lawrence library’s bookmobile to receive $10,000 sponsorship from KU sorority Pi Beta Phi

photo by: Rochelle Valverde

"Dottie," the Lawrence Public Library's new bookmobile is pictured in front of the library, 707 Vermont St.

The Lawrence Public Library’s bookmobile outreach program will get a lift with a sponsorship pledge from a KU sorority.

The library’s Board of Trustees approved during its Monday night meeting an agreement for the University of Kansas chapter of Pi Beta Phi to sponsor the library’s bookmobile “Dottie.” The sorority would pledge a minimum of $10,000 over a two-year period and will receive naming recognition on the bookmobile.

Kathleen Morgan, the director for the Lawrence Public Library Friends & Foundation, told the Journal-World it’s a “special gift” from the organization. All of the funding from the sorority will go to the mission of helping the library’s public outreach program through Dottie, whether it will be buying new books to give away or installing a liftgate on the bookmobile to reduce some of the physical effort of hauling out book carts.

“(The money) will go to things that will help the operation be smoother,” Morgan said.

While the donation means that Pi Beta Phi will get its name on the bookmobile, Morgan said that the donors who “helped bring Dottie to life” back in August 2021 will still be recognized on Dottie, with the sorority’s name being on “another prominent place.”

Kammie Green, the chapter president for KU’s Pi Beta Phi, said the group chose to sponsor Dottie and work with the library because it loved the “creative approach to making books more accessible for everyone in the community.” Green said it also aligned with the national sorority’s philanthropic efforts of “Read, Lead, Achieve” which supporting literacy initiatives that encourage reading.

It’s not the first time the sorority has given back to the library in recent years. According to a memo about the sponsorship agreement, the chapter, its alumnae group and foundation have donated multiple gifts of over $12,000 to LPL Friends & Foundation over the last decade.

This May, the chapter gave $5,000 to the library’s foundation to support the summer reading program for children, as the Journal-World reported. Morgan said the gift allowed the library to expand the reach of the program to more children by having Dottie come to local summer camps. The library was able to bring prizes for successful summer readers and books for kids to check out.

Morgan also said along with the sponsorship, the sorority said its members would become more involved as volunteers at the library.

“They’ve been wonderful to work with,” Morgan said. “I am blown away by their fundraising abilities.”

Green said the sorority members have loved working with the library staff, adding partnering with the library is “especially meaningful” because they can see the results of the effort firsthand. She hopes to continue those efforts with the support of Dottie and working with the library in the future.

“We feel proud knowing that our contribution helps bring books directly into the hands of readers here locally and supports Pi Beta Phi’s shared goal of promoting literacy for all,” Green said.