News Release
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2019
Golden Empire Transit Reading Express Book Drive at Barnes & Noble
Bakersfield, CA — Golden Empire Transit District (GET) is partnering with Barnes & Noble Booksellers to host a book drive and promote literacy among young children while expanding its Reading Express (GET’s on-board library program). The book drive will be all day Saturday, August 24, at the 4001 California Ave. Barnes & Noble location in Bakersfield.
The Reading Express provides books on GET fixed-route buses for children to enjoy while riding with their parents. The bookseller partnership on August 24 is an expansion of GET’s current employee and community push to improve the reading selection for young riders on-board GET. “We are excited to have Barnes & Noble as a partner in expanding literacy in Bakersfield,” said Karen King, GET CEO. GET will be hosting a story time at 11:00 a.m. in addition to offering service information and fun giveaways from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Residents are encouraged to donate new and gently used books for reading levels 0 through 3rd grade at the book drive. Customers can mention “GET bus book drive” or “Reading Express” during checkout and Barnes & Noble will give ten percent of all purchases back to GET in the form of a gift card for the District to purchase books for the Reading Express. Patrons at Barnes & Noble can also buy a book at the store to donate. A selection of Little Golden Book Favorites, and other titles priced around five dollars, will be located next to the GET booth.
“Customers can donate their favorite childhood book or their children’s favorite books and Barnes & Noble will provide little bookplates for visitors to write a dedication in their donated books,” said King. “If you are unable to make the Saturday event, boxes for donations are also located at the GET Headquarters at 1830 Golden State Avenue,” said King.
GET launched the Reading Express program in September 2008 with a grant from First 5 Kern. The Reading Express offers many benefits to GET’s youngest riders. It provides a way to reduce the stress of commuting while exposing kids to books and the world of literacy. It offers busy parents additional opportunities to interact positively with their children during their daily commutes, and it gives children who may not have books in the home easy access to them while going about their everyday activities. For more information about GET’s Reading Express, please visit www.getbus.org/rider-info/the-reading-express.
GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses, and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).
