What we're doing
Public libraries and public transportation are two public goods that don't necessarily intersect. But could they? Browse, Borrow, Board is a statewide experiment — based on a prototype started in Boston — that explores the relationship between public transit rider experience and the offerings of public libraries.
With a simple QR code printed on multilingual signage — designed by a Massachusetts artist — transit riders are invited to browse a curated, multilingual, digital library collection; borrow up to 5 e-books or audiobooks and an unlimited number of magazines and newspapers; and then board the bus or train for their journey.
The experiment is a partnership between several of Massachusetts' Regional Transit Authorities, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Public Library, and MassDOT.
(Left) A digital screen showing the Browse, Borrow, Board signage at the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) customer service center at Union Station in Springfield, MA. (Middle) A Browse, Borrow, Board sign at a PVTA bus shelter in Northampton (Right) An outdoor bus shelter showing the Browse, Borrow, Board physical sticker on the back window-pane wall.
Why we're doing it
Ideas that exist in the gray spaces between departments or agencies are often interesting but lack the connective tissue to execute. Even interesting ideas just stay interesting ideas until you find a way to test them. The best way to test a good idea's mettle is to actually implement it at a small scale and see what happens. Not only to learn if it works at a small scale, but also to start building the implementation muscle and relational capacity between collaborating organizations.
Wait times, and trip times, on public transit throughout the Commonwealth can be long. We know. We wanted to try to make the experience a little bit more joyful by providing easy access to free, high-quality digital content without requiring a library card or special app. This is an early implementation test related to Beyond Mobility, the statewide long-range transportation plan, and its pillar regarding travel experience.
What we hope to learn
Through this statewide experiment, we hope to learn these three things:
- How does this service offering affect riders' commutes?
We don't expect Browse, Borrow, Board to cause people who don't currently take transit to start riding the bus, but for those who are already riders, does this offering connect them to their community in a new way? Do they become more aware of resources available to them through their local library? Do they see their local RTA as more engaged and supportive? - What are the operational impacts of this service?
We know RTAs operate on tight budgets. We designed this iteration of the prototype to be lightweight and hopefully minimally labor-intensive for each RTA to install and maintain. Did we hit the mark? - Are there other avenues of collaboration between public transit and public libraries?
Do transit riders have other interests in what their local or statewide library could provide to them? What novel avenues will this experiment uncover?
Who's involved
- MetroWest RTA
- Berkshire RTA
- Franklin RTA
- Cape Cod RTA
- Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
- MeVa
- Worcester RTA
- Massachusetts Library System
- Boston Public Library
- MassDOT