By Lisa Plotkin, PJ Library Coordinator - JCFR

Have you seen the RPS Lit Limo around town? 

Imagine an ice cream truck - with books!  

 The Lit Limo visits schools, playgrounds, and neighborhoods throughout Richmond to increase access to books at home and create excitement for reading. 

Thanks to the vision of Judy Deichman, this amazing endeavor has been operating in Richmond since 2020, engaging children one book at a time, and they even get to slide out the back of the bus.  Children, ages 0-18 are welcome to browse inside the beautifully organized and air-conditioned repurposed bus, driven by Lavonda Robinson and hosted by Judy. See their photo above. 

As soon as the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond heard in July that library funding for Richmond Public Schools had been significantly cut, PJ Library was invited to hold a book drive to donate to RPS. 

Community members Claudia Biegler and Miriam Davidow gladly helped to make connections with the right folks at Richmond Public Schools and provide some guidance on this initiative. 

Families with a few extra books stepped up to donate.  Thanks to the Bushey, Fishman, Staffenberg, and Adams families, PJ Library donated 210 books to the Lit Limo in September, with both secular and Jewish content. 

The books are already in children’s hands, helping Jewish children feel seen and helping others learn about Jewish holidays or experience sweet stories highlighting universal values. See an inside view of the Lit Limo below. 

 Do you ever have too many books at home?  Consider donating them to great causes like this one.  PJ Library RVA is often willing to accept your PJ Library book donations on an ongoing basis.  Local medical practices, little free libraries, public libraries, and other merchants/offices are often willing to take children's books off your hands.

For more information or to donate your books, contact Lisa at PJLibrary@JewishRichmond.org.

See a photo below of Lavonda, Judy and Lisa.