A Report From the Street
Every week, our Street Librarians head out with our mobile bicycle libraries to multiple locations across Portland to share books and supplies with those in need. But the impact of what we do goes deeper than one book or a pair of glasses. This week, our new Co-Director Josh Pollock shares another side of our story in his latest Report from the Street:
“It’s been a busy summer out on the streets running library shifts, petting dogs, and talking about life, literature, and the state of the world. Many folks we speak with are in precarious situations, which position them to be among the first to feel the effects of large-scale cuts to our already-threadbare social safety net. As the general atmosphere becomes harsher and less safe for our patrons and community, Street Books shifts function as a sort of safe harbor where people can come as they are, and be treated as the precious human beings they are. We consistently receive feedback that our patrons look forward to seeing us, go out of their way to come and hang out, and feel seen, known, and cared for by us.
“In the past couple weeks, we’ve responded to the summer heat by distributing a ton of extra water and electrolyte packets. We’ve lent out books ranging from Garfield comics to Herodotus to Ntozake Shange, and we’ve spent a lot of time sitting with folks and listening to their own stories. Since the beginning of June, we’ve lent out 1095 books and we’ve distributed 197 pairs of glasses, 1102 doses of naloxone, and an enormous amount of other survival supplies. It’s important to remember, though, that numbers like these can’t quantify the work we do, which mainly consists of building relationships—of course we put a ton of effort into mutual aid distribution, but our most harm-reductive resource is really our desire to keep showing up and reminding folks that they’re worthy of love and kindness.”
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Portland Monthly: The Bike Library Connecting Portland’s Housed and Unhoused Residents
Photo by Michael Novak, courtesy Portland Monthly
The Fall Issue of Portland Monthly is out now, and Street Books is one of the featured stories! Writer Jaydra Johnson joined our librarians for a shift over the summer, and the resulting article perfectly captures the joy and the struggles that are integral to what we do and how it makes a difference for our neighbors on the streets. Street Books supporter Omar El Akkad is quoted in the article, saying “It’s precisely because this isn’t a mechanism of day-to-day survival that it matters so much.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!
Read the whole story (including beautiful photos, like the one above, by Micheal Novak) on Portland Monthly’s website or in the print magazine.
Thank You for Joining Our Book Lovers Bike Ride!
Riders gather in Grant Park to hear from Street Books founder Laura Moulton
We had a blast at our 3rd annual Book Lovers Bike Ride! Riders enjoyed the perfect weather and golden hour light for a sweet neighborhood ride, with a special stop at the Ramona statue and a lively round of bingo and book exchanges amidst the roses of Peninsula Park at the end. We heard uplifting words from our founder Laura, Community Outreach Director and Street Librarian Diana, and Co-Director Monica about the history and future of Street Books and the power of books to transform lives and bring communities together.
THANK YOU to all who joined for your incredible show of support, and for the hard work and joyful enthusiasm of our dedicated ride organizers and volunteers! Scroll down for more great photos and a cool time lapse video of the whole ride 🤯
