You may be familiar with your local library's bookmobile that delivers books to your door.

A library in southern Kentucky is now providing free transportation to the library and other places people need to go.

Our Laura Rogers explains more about the little free shuttle and how it stems from long term tornado recovery.

A really big part of the Warren County Public Library is increasing access and improving quality of life for our patrons.

That now includes transportation to get to the library and other helpful places.

We go to city parks, grocery stores, pharmacies, medical centers and clinics, residential areas, the little free Shuttle 15 passenger van has been in service a little more than a year now, thanks to a gift from the American Red cross.

We noticed that there was a gap in public transportation locally.

Joshua Riddle is disaster risk reduction manager for the community adaptation program Emergency Blanket, that works with nonprofits to enhance their services, often related to housing, food and health.

And what we want to do is support them in that day to day work.

So we know those organizations aren't going to go anywhere, and we don't want to leave them either.

There are 12 states with these programs, including Kentucky.

They identified counties in areas that are prone to disaster, have a high social vulnerability index score, and a few other factors based on population and things like that.

Warren County, the only one currently in Kentucky, was selected based on those factors, made even more critical due to long term recovery from the 2021 tornadoes.

We are treating our local library as what we call Resilience Hub.

The library is not just a fixed building that you go to.

We also take books and materials out into the community.

Likewise, they can now bring people to the library to use information services on site.

The little free shuttle kind of opens that up a little bit more.

And brings people in so that they can enjoy this third space.

They can access Wi-Fi.

They can use tools.

They can take their kids to storytime.

They can also pick up items from the community care collection, which the Red cross also helps to keep stocked.

As we know in Kentucky, the weather changes constantly and so having some hand warmers ready is worth it.

That was especially the case during the colder winter months.

Gracie Harris says shuttle ridership was up to 450 passengers in January.

The temps were frigid and the wind chills were even colder.

The shuttle expanded its route to include warming centers and shelters.

The Red cross has also donated resources like generators and solar charging stations.

We want to continue doing what works really well and what is requested from the community, or what needs are kind of brought to the library.

Transportation.

Now checking one of those boxes for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you Laura.

The International Center is another community resilience hub in Bowling Green.

Joshua Riddle says the Red cross is working with 19 local partners and organizations to provide enhanced services and resources.