Growing Community Outreach Through EVs
San Diego County Library
Innovation Synopsis
In 2025, San Diego County Library (SDCL) became the first department in the County of San Diego to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) for community outreach, sparking a collaborative, systemwide effort to reimagine mobile library services.
Staff from multiple branches worked together to test vehicles, explore new service techniques and technology, and shape a flexible approach to meeting community needs.
By transitioning to four electric Library Outreach Vans, SDCL established a new, staff-driven model for delivering responsive, green-friendly outreach across the region.
Challenge/Opportunity
San Diego County Library (SDCL) developed the Electric Library Outreach Vans service model to advance climate action goals and grow capacity for community outreach in underserved areas.
The library’s vehicles are outfitted for convenient access to equipment for pop-up library services – saving staff time and encouraging shared use of resources.
As a department with 33 branches that performs over 500 outreach activities annually, the Electric Library Outreach Vans help build capacity for staff across the system.
According to the County of San Diego’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap: “Most of the County’s greenhouse gas emissions (45%) come from on-road transportation sources. Fueling vehicles with renewable electricity will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the region.”
SDCL is designated as a Certified Sustainable Library. This project demonstrates our role supporting climate action goals and equity in the County of San Diego.
Key Elements of Innovation
San Diego County Library (SDCL) embarked on a multi-year, collaborative planning process to launch the Electric Library Outreach Vans service model in 2025.
Library staff created new procedures and tools to support this green-friendly service model, including online training, videos, a staff reservation system, and a reporting tool.
A small cohort of staff tested the new procedures in early 2025, before we launched access to vehicles across the system.
In addition to this, the cohort participated in a strategic planning process to evaluate outreach efforts, learn about the community, and design new ways to reach residents using Electric Library Outreach Vans.
Each team created a Strategic Library Outreach Plan to highlight priorities and grow access to library services in the community.
This service model and process shows how deep collaboration makes it possible to improve operations, advance equity, and support climate action goals in our region.
Achieved Outcomes
In 2025, library staff explored innovative, creative ways to reach the community using the new Electric Library Outreach Vans.
SDCL sponsored reading parties with DJs at County Parks, visited a rural farmer’s market, schools, and tribal nations. Staff participated in cultural celebrations, like San Diego Pride, the Deaf Festival, MLK Festival, the Chaldean Community Festival, San Diego Book Festival, and the Latino Book & Family Festival. Staff issued library cards at a mental health clubhouse, UCSD, Grossmont Community College, and Mesa College.
During the first year of service, library staff reached 12,790 people during 41 library outreach van visits. 572 library cards were issued during these visits.
After staff completed training, 100% of the staff survyed reported that they feel confident prioritizing efforts in the community and performing community outreach using a library outreach van.
