Many are considering possible travel plans with Summer just around the corner. Popular travel destinations may require extensive planning, a high cost, and an exhausting commute from point A to point B. But what if something was available at a much lower cost and great probability of enjoyment? The Whittier Public Library has free backpacks equipped with various items that can make exploring California’s state parks easy and enjoyable at a low cost.
Libraries nowadays go way beyond having books. Many California libraries have been chosen to participate in the “Backpack Project.” The California State Library and the Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC) have partnered to provide hiking backpacks for libraries statewide. These backpacks are intended to make the outdoors more accessible and facilitate a deeper connection with nature.
Librarian, Scott Gurrola, was tasked with applying for a grant allowing Public Library funds to purchase adventure backpacks for library patrons to borrow/check out for up to two weeks at a time. “I got hired and was told about the info coming in the mail, and I was told to apply for it. I wrote up a grant proposal and submitted it. It required a 300-word essay on ‘How can your library benefit from this grant?’ A short time later, we received an email letting us know that we had been selected, and we eventually received the backpacks.” The central location in Uptown Whittier received nine backpacks, and the Whittwood branch five.
Backpacks come equipped with a variety of outdoor recreation items: Trekking poles, binoculars, compass, survival horn, mosquito headnet, flashlight, pocket microscope, waterproof pouch, CA trees and wildflowers guide, CA wildlife guide, CA parks pass, and a poncho! There is an itemized list of backpack materials to be transparent about its contents, to ensure that people know the backpack value of $240 and understand to handle it with care. The library understands that normal wear and tear will happen, but wants to limit having to replace items abruptly due to borrower neglect.
Library patrons can borrow for two weeks at a time just by having a WPL card which is good at either of the Whittier branch locations. Packs are on a first-come, first-served basis; no reservations. However, patrons may call and the library can place a “day hold” on a backpack. The parks pass can be used for California state parks and beaches, not National Parks. The Pass allows free entrance and parking.
By approaching library patrons randomly, some Whittier residents could express their thoughts on the availability of the adventure packs. “Knowing about the backpacks makes me want to travel, and feel like I can tackle any challenge the outdoors throws at me,” said new Whittier resident Steven Meza. With similar sentiment, longtime Whittier library patron Jazmin Garcia said, “These are available now!? Oh wow, That’s awesome! I would not have imagined this is an item you could check out from a library.”
With Summer coming up, this backpack project can be an excellent resource for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone wanting to try something new. Being equipped with one of the backpacks could make exploring the many state parks much more accessible. The Whittier Public Library is showing that libraries have much more to offer than books and is actively promoting that books are great to take with you when you take the time to explore the outdoors.
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