A Movable Feast: Learning About the Heavens, Earth and Sea

The Los Angeles Public Library operates four bookmobiles, two based at the Mid-Valley Regional Library in Reseda and two on Manchester Avenue in South-Central Los Angeles, serving about 50 schools in all. But that’s only the start of the exhibits that come to schools around Southern California. A sampling of others:

* There are several Music Mobiles, instrument-filled vans operated by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Society--and two by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County--that visit third-grade classes. Docents show where each family of instruments sits in the orchestra and demonstrate their sounds. Students can hold and play some instruments.

* The Breath Mobile is run by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. A converted motor home with two examining rooms, it offers free screenings, tests and medical supplies to students whose families don’t have insurance.

* The Earth Mobile, operated by the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, lets third- through sixth-graders become archeologists, digging in sand for planted Native American artifacts in a make-believe Southwestern canyon.

* The Sea Mobile, from the same museum, visits middle schools. A two-hour simulated dive to the San Pedro Channel comes to life in video portholes and on computer monitors.