Surprise Story Times Popping up on KCTA Buses

Surprise story times are popping up on Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) buses around Kansas City, Kansas. During the month of June, riders on the 101 bus route may get to hear a story read by local athletes and community leaders including Mayor Mark Holland and a member of the roller derby. These individuals will be appearing at unannounced times as part of Kansas City, Kansas Public Library’s (KCKPL) Stories on the Bus program to promote summer reading and the upcoming Library in the Park.

The Stories on the Bus program was conceived by Outreach Librarian Louisa Whitfield-Smith who was inspired by the 2016 Newbery Award-winning Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña. “When we step into a library or onto a public bus, we open ourselves to serendipity. True to the spirit of Matt de la Peña’s powerful Last Stop on Market Street, Stories on the Bus is a joyful celebration of that serendipity, of the power of stories to connect us across our community.” 

The final phase of the program will include a live performance of Last Stop on Market Street as de la Peña reads the book out loud to children chosen from the USD 500 school district. The children will board a bus at Quindaro Elementary and ride to KCKPL Main Library as KC MeltingPot actors take on the roles of characters in the book. de la Peña will also be present at Library in the Park on September 17 to sign and read from his book. 1000 free copies will be given away to attendees.

Stories on the Bus are the result of a partnership between Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), and Unified Government Transit (UG Transit). “Stories on the Bus is a wonderful celebration of reading and of riding transit,” said KCATA president and CEO Robbie Makinen. “We are proud to partner with the library to share fun and interesting story times for our riders as they travel to jobs, schools, entertainment, and healthcare.”  UG Transit Department Director, Justus Walker added, “Unified Government Transit is honored to collaborate on a project that promotes reading and literacy in our community.”