We saw that many families in our community weren’t able to attend library programs due to transportation or scheduling barriers. We also wanted to reach new audiences and highlight the library as a creative, welcoming place for everyone. The city’s restored streetcar offered the perfect opportunity to bring literacy to life in an unexpected way. By partnering with Sun Metro and other departments, we could promote reading, family engagement, and city pride all at once, meeting people where they are, in a fun and meaningful way.

Streetcar Read & Ride is a true citywide collaboration. Library staff host themed storytimes aboard the El Paso Streetcar, combining storytelling, songs, and movement to keep families entertained and engaged. Our most popular event, the Halloween Streetcar Read & Ride, has grown every year and now includes more than 18 city departments who decorate, hand out treats, and help host activities. This year, we’ll have two streetcars running at once to accommodate the growing crowds. The program promotes early literacy and builds community by turning public transit into a joyful, mobile storytime that families look forward to year after year.

Streetcar Read & Ride has become one of our most popular outreach programs, with over 600 attendees this fiscal year alone. The Halloween edition continues to grow, drawing new families, partners, and media attention each time. The collaboration has strengthened our relationships with Sun Metro and city departments, creating new opportunities for shared community events. Families tell us they love the experience, many call it “magical” and say it’s their child’s favorite library activity. We’ve seen a rise in library card sign-ups, increased attendance at branch programs, and a stronger connection between the library and the community we serve. It’s proof that a little creativity and a great story can move a city.