For love of books

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POCATELLO - Kathryn Poulter is willing to tolerate some cold afternoons this winter for the sake of getting area residents engrossed in good books.

For the first time, the Marshall Public Library will expand its popular Book Wagon program to offer year-round service.

Poulter, Marshall's youth services supervisor, plans to bundle up on fall and winter days when it's not too rainy or snowy and read at area parks while awaiting patrons for her trailer converted into a library.

She believes there will be demand for the convenience of having books offered at neighborhood parks, even when the parks are blanketed in snow.

''Since we have it, why not take it out? I'm not afraid of the cold,'' Poulter said. ''I have a great scarf that a pen-pal in Germany knitted for me.''

The Book Wagon holds about 300 books. Poulter rotates titles from the library's shelves to keep the collection fresh for Book Wagon regulars. She offers a sampling of books she knows children will read and some books they likely aren't familiar with that could pique their interests. She stresses the Book Wagon also has classic books and books of interest to adults.

She's also been known to customize her assortment of books to fit the audience. For example, at the Southeast Idaho Farmers' Market this summer, Poulter made sure to place an emphasis on gardening books.

''Sometimes the hunger for a good book to read is as strong or more strong than the hunger for food to put in your mouth,'' Poulter said. ''All I know is I think people need books, and if books are available, they'll come to where they are. I would take advantage of it. Why wouldn't anybody else?''

Poulter grew up in Salt Lake City and moved to Pocatello nine years ago to run Great Harvest Bread Co. She sold the business and said she's found her niche since joining the library staff in August 2004.

She's a life-long book lover who is now in the midst of at least four books, including ''The God Particle'' by Leon Lederman, which says makes quantum physics understandable for the average person, and ''The Doris Lessing Reader,'' a sample of the works of the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature.

The book wagon has been in service since Flag Day in 2006.

Book Wagon hours and locations: For Oct. 27, Nov. 10, Nov. 24, Dec. 8 and Dec. 22, the wagon will be available at Freckleton Park from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Raymond Park from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Westello Park from 11:30 a.m. to noon, Spyglass Point from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and Indian Hills Fire Station from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For Saturday, Nov. 3, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 15 and Dec. 29, the wagon will be available at Caldwell Park from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., St. Anthony Parking Lot from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Alameda Park from 11:30 a.m. to noon, Grace Lutheran Lower Campus from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and Gate City Elementary from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

By John O'Connell

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