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HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) – Hutto-resident Veronica Johnson has been immersed in books since she was a child. Now she strives to instill the same passion in kids – literally.
Johnson launched Libros Bookmobile in October, a mobile bookstore that specializes in selling used children’s, youth and adult books. She said she wanted to create an ecosystem that inspires the same love and enthusiasm for books as a child, while making reading more accessible throughout the greater Austin area.
“I’ve always wanted to have some kind of bookstore,” she said. “It was always the idea that if I won the lottery I had a million dollars, I’d open a bookstore. So it has always been my dream. “
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Libros Bookmobile is currently present at farmers markets across the region. Eventually, Johnson said she’d love to become a fixture at local ISDs, and even expand to children’s birthday parties.
She often searches thrift stores and thrift stores for new books looking for new owners, and has become a staple with friends preparing to move or shrinking their collections. Often times, used books can be thrown away while they’re still in good condition, Johnson said; Their hope is that through Libros Bookmobile they will find the next owner willing to give them the care they need.
Whenever she imagined owning her own bookstore, she always thought of it as a mix of books for adults and children. She referred to herself as a “big kid” and said she had always had a deep appreciation for the creativity and ingenuity of children’s literature.
As a mother of two, this commitment to children’s access to books has become all the more important to her, she said.
“Because reading and books are such a big part of my life, I’ve always wanted to instill this love of reading [my kids]”She said.” And that has grown into a little free library in my garden. And that only helps other kids to have good and entertaining books to read. “
In terms of the non-traditional business environment, Johnson said the combination of books and a school bus just makes sense – it’s like a food truck, she said, but instead serves to nourish the mind.
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And this format has become a hit with the children in their neighborhood.
“I park the bus in our driveway and we have neighbors who come to us: ‘Oh, we love your bus! My daughters love the bus, ”she said with a smile.
Libros Bookmobile is currently fundraising online to renovate the interior of the bus and collect more books. Johnson’s visions for the bus include dedicated bookcases that specialize in age groups, as well as a small coffee nook where people can enjoy a drink while immersing themselves in a new book.
For Johnson, she said that just that one glimmer of miracle out of a book is all it takes people to make them lifelong readers. If this bookstore helps them fall down the rabbit hole, she said it would be a success.
“I’ve always loved books,” she said. “So being able to pursue all of my hobbies – being creative, being artistic – just kind of fits.”
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