Children at times miss out on literacy opportunities due to barriers like transportation, limited library hours, and lack of digital access, while families with time, mobility, or language challenges, struggle to navigate existing systems. To facilitate literacy support in our community we created P.U.P., a literacy pop-up event and app that provides easy access to books, education and provides encouragement for reading.

Main role in community   Community member  29  /  Parent or Guardian  13  /  School staff   2
Education level interaction   College  26  /  Elementary  16  /  Kindergarten  7  /  Pre-K  3
Access to public library   Yes  36  /  Unsure  6  /  No  2
Distance to local public library   Walkable  5  /  Five minute drive  14  /  Fifteen minute drive  25

What barriers do families in your community face when accessing literacy or library services?
Children in our community frequently miss out on essential literacy services due to lack of transportation and limited library hours, coupled with the challenge that some simply do not enjoy reading. Meanwhile, parents responded with time constraints and language barriers being some of the main reasons they don't visit their local library. A few respondents stated they didn't have a local library near them or were unable to access library materials due to lack of internet access.

Are there specific literacy or reading needs in your community?
Respondents felt that children often struggle with engagement, prioritizing digital devices over books, while specific groups face exclusion due to a lack of sensory-friendly spaces for special needs. Parents also felt that their students should have access to banned book and more inclusive, diverse material.

Where would be the most convenient location for a pop-up library event?
The respondents overwhelmingly favored placing pop-up literacy events in easily accessible hubs. The most preferred locations such as local parks, community centers, and school campuses. The secondary locations were shopping areas, apartment complexes, and religious buildings.

What would make it easier for you or your community to attend a pop-up library event?
The respondents marked weekend availability as the most crucial factor for whether on not they could attend. This was closely followed by improved outreach and planning tools like a mobile app or website. Additional suggestions were to make sure the event had flexible hours, would be placed at convenient locations, and provided translation services to make the event accessible to all families.

What kind of resources would you like to see in a pop-up library for children?
The community's highest priority for the pop-up library is practical assistance, and requesting help with signing up for local programs. Parents felt that storytime sessions, games and hands-on activities like arts and crafts would help keep their kids engaged with reading. Furthermore, the respondents expressed a desire for workshops meant for parents and guardians, to learn a new languages or other ways to engage their kids outside of technology. To fully serve the community, the Pop-Up-Pages should integrate fundamental resources like basic access to books, reading tutors or volunteers, school supplies, and partnering with the local food-bank to provide snacks or refreshments.

The first rounded of testers liked the bottom bar navigation along with the concept of the icons. However it was noted that they could be improved in clarity or in theme. The navigation felt overwhelming for some, a lot of pages, a lot of text, and a lot of sections. It would get hard to remember where something is if you wanted to find it quickly. The options for parental controls is good but could use some refinement.

Over all a simplified layout, suggestions were mostly in relation to app functionality and progress but an area that adults and kids could navigate to for tips or helpful things would be appreciated. Implemented feedback from the first iteration along with adding chaperon sign ups and deciding to left align the text.