Middle School Installs Bikes in Library

Did you know that Hampton-Dumont Middle School recently installed two stationary bikes in their library?

The idea was brought up by H-D Middle School Librarian Joslyn Stock, who had recently learned that riding while reading was beneficial to students for a number of reasons. According to her and her research, physical activity enhances brain function, attention and memory retention, helping students absorb more information.

“It provides an outlet for excess energy, making reading fun and less frustrating for kids with ADHD or learning difficulties,” she said. “It transforms quiet library time into a more active experience, drawing in students who might otherwise avoid reading. Finally, schools have reported noticeable jumps in reading proficiency and test scores when they have implemented a larger (i.e., class size) Ride & Read program.”

So she contacted Lili Velasco at the Franklin County Extension and Outreach Office to see if she could help secure a LEAP grant to cover the costs of a couple bikes, as she knew that Lili had worked with LEAP in the past. (Iowa’s LEAP program was created to help address obesity in communities around the state.)

Unfortunately, they didn’t get that grant, but they kept trying, and Lili was able to secure a different grant from First Security Bank, which helped pay for the bikes. Those two bikes were ordered and set up in the middle school library last Thursday, Feb. 26, said Joslyn.

So far, the bikes have been a hit, with both students and staff, said Joslyn, who added that expectations have been set for the bikes.

Students must not have any missing work at the time of using the bikes, and they can only read paper or hard cover books while riding. This means no iPads.

Joslyn said she is excited to see how these bikes will impact students and their relationships with reading in the long run.