ABOUT

The Mobile Library had its beginning in 1995, shortly after the opening of Museo Pambata. In fulfillment of the museum’s thrust to promote literacy, staff members and volunteers regularly visited underserved areas in Manila aboard a Tamaraw FX carrying 50 books and a simple sign that read "Museo Pambata Mobile Library."

Six years later, in 2001, through a grant from Ford Foundation Philippines, a “dream mobile library van” was inaugurated. A six-wheeler Isuzu NPR truck airbrushed (by Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan’s founding president, Mel Silvestre and his students) with colorful images of children engrossed in reading fulfilling this ambitious dream of a library on wheels that could carry at least 300 children's books and other learning aids. The van was able to reach more children, conducting numerous storytelling and book-lending sessions around Manila, and reaching provinces such as Batangas. The visits proved to be successful, so much so that after eight years, the van had to undergo countless automotive repairs and parts replacements, due to wear and tear incurred during its travels.

MP soon drafted a proposal to revive the Mobile Library, to be submitted to different funding agencies. It was former MP Vice President, Atty. Gizela “Ging” Gonzalez-Montinola who took notice of the project. With the full support of Vicente Mills and his staff from Pilipinas Hino, Inc., refurbishment of the van began in July 2011. Metrobank Foundation also gave a grant to support the Mobile Library’s programs. Former MP staff Sharry Bobadilla made the illustrations for the new van, which is now adorned with images of kids reading and listening to a storyteller.