Dottie is the Lawrence Public Library’s mobile outreach vehicle, designed to extend library services into the community beyond the walls of the main building. The project was commissioned by the Lawrence Public Library and funded by the LPL Friends & Foundation. Built on the chassis of an 18-foot Ford step van, Dottie features deployable sheet-metal shelves that extend from the side of the vehicle and lower to bring books within reach of the public, including small children. The interior, which is not accessible to the public, is outfitted with cabinets and support spaces for a variety of outreach activities.

Professor Nils Gore’s ARCH 509 Design-Build studio began designing the truck remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students conducted remote community engagement activities, then built full-scale mockups and prototypes to better understand the vehicle’s physical dimensions and accessibility challenges. A smaller team completed the truck’s fabrication in the summer of 2021.

More information about Dottie’s public event schedule is available on the Lawrence Public Library website.