Scooby Van of SA accepting donations through Friday for new Groovy Giving Libraries

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — San Antonio’s own Mystery Machine that delivers free books and Scooby snacks to under-served children in the Alamo City is holding a book drive to fill two new permanent mini libraries that will open later this week.

The Scooby Van of San Antonio is opening the first two Groovy Giving Libraries on Friday with the help of Bexar County and judges Cynthia Chapa and Monique Diaz. The Groovy Giving Libraries are going to be permanent installations at the Children’s Court in the 150th Civil District Couty and at the 288th Civil District Court office.

“When these little kids have to go [to Children’s Court], it’s kind of a scary thing,” Scooby Van of San Antonio founder and president Linda Pearson said. “There’s lots of toys, but when they leave the room they have to leave the toys behind. So with the Groovy Giving Library, one of them being in the Children’s Court, they get a book that they get to take home with them.”

Donation boxes are located at five locations around town through Friday, which is when the Groovy Giving Libraries will officially open. The ribbon cutting ceremonies will both take place on Friday at 11:15 a.m. at the Children’s Court located at 100 Dolorosa, 3rd Floor, and at the 288th Civil District Court office located at 101 W. Nueva in Suite. 405.

The five donation boxes are located at:

• The New Parking Garage Outside Gym located at 211 S. Flores Street
• Public Works Building located at 1948 Probandt St.
• Central Jury Room and Room 115 at the Courthouse located at 100 Dolorosa
• Children’s Court located at 100 Dolorosa on the third floor
• Paul Elizondo Tower in Suite 405 located at 101 W. Nueva Street

Pearson said she’s been driving the Mystery Machine-esque van around town for more than 10 years, but during the COVID-19 pandemic chose to turn it into a mobile free library for under-served children in San Antonio.

The Scooby Van became popular on social media after a report by the San Antonio Express News last year and Pearson said the popularity spurred her on to officially turn the project in a non-profit organization. The Scooby Van has already given away more than 8,000 free books this year.

The Scooby Van also supplies interested local businesses with a “Scooby Book Bucket” to place in common areas to allow customers to drop off book donations year round. You can find a list of Scooby Book Buckets and learn how to get one for your business at scoobyvansa.com/book-buckets.

You can keep up with where the Scooby Van is around San Antonio through their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.