St. Joseph’s Indian School to give away thousands more books across South Dakota
Native American authors, reading promoted with statewide bookmobile that logged 3,000 miles, 22,610 donated books in 2025
Free books, stories and smiles are headed to communities across South Dakota.
St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain is launching its sixth annual bookmobile tour later this month, bringing free reading materials to dozens of towns while promoting literacy and Native American authors.
The effort, organized by the school’s Alumni Relations department, will make more than 40 stops across the state through July 1, beginning in Jackson County.
The traveling bookmobile provides books for readers of all ages and interests, with events open to the public at no cost.
“Access to books can make a lasting difference in a child’s life,” said Andy Lepkowski, who heads St. Joseph’s Indian School Alumni Relations division, which organizes the annual trek across South Dakota that last year logged more than 3,000 miles on the Bookmobile’s odometer. “By bringing the Bookmobile directly into communities, we’re helping remove barriers and making reading something that’s exciting and accessible for everyone.”
During the 2025 tour, the program distributed 22,610 books statewide.
This year’s schedule includes stops in communities across western, central and eastern South Dakota, including Pine Ridge, Eagle Butte, Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Mission and Rapid City.
The tour begins May 26 with stops in Wanblee, Potato Creek and Kyle. Additional visits are planned throughout June, including Sioux Falls and Mitchell on June 10, Aberdeen on June 18 and Rapid City on June 30 and July 1.
All bookmobile events are free and open to the public, with books distributed while supplies last.
Bookmobile tour schedule
May 26 (Tuesday)
Wanblee — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cap Building lot in housing
Potato Creek — 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., playground area
Kyle — 3 to 5 p.m., Senior Citizens Center by school
May 27 (Wednesday)
Porcupine — 10 a.m. to noon, entrance of housing
Manderson — 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., school parking lot
Oglala — 3:15 to 5 p.m., Boys & Girls Club lot off main road
May 28 (Thursday)
Pine Ridge — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Catholic church parking lot
June 2 (Tuesday)
Cherry Creek — 10 to 11 a.m., post office area
Eagle Butte — 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., side street by the library
Dupree — 3:30 to 5 p.m., YMCA side street
June 3 (Wednesday)
Timber Lake — 10 to 11:30 a.m., Main Street by the library
Little Eagle — 12:15 to 2 p.m., side street by the post office
Bullhead — 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., side street by the school
McLaughlin — 4 to 5 p.m., side street by the city park
June 4 (Thursday)
Yates — 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., state building parking lot, Buffalo Avenue
Kenel — 1:15 to 2 p.m., side street by the community center
Wakpala — 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., community center parking lot
June 9 (Tuesday)
Marty — 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., school parking lot
Wagner — 1 to 5 p.m., IHS parking lot
June 10 (Wednesday)
Sioux Falls — 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Terry Redlin Elementary lot
Mitchell — 2:30 to 5 p.m., swimming pool parking lot
June 11 (Thursday)
Fort Thompson — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., casino parking lot
June 12 (Friday)
Lower Brule — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Buches store parking lot
Lower Brule — 1 to 4:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Church parking lot
June 16 (Tuesday)
Flandreau — 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Flandreau Middle School
Watertown — 3 to 5 p.m., McKinney Park side street lot
June 17 (Wednesday)
Sisseton — 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Teals Market parking lot
Dakota Sioux Casino — 4 to 7 p.m., in front of the casino
June 18 (Thursday)
Aberdeen — 10 to 11:30 a.m., Roncalli Primary School front entrance (1st Ave. NE and Arch Street)
Aberdeen — noon to 3 p.m., Hobby Lobby parking lot (4th Street and Roosevelt Street)
June 23 (Tuesday)
Winner — 10 to 11:30 a.m., Ace Hardware parking lot
O’Kreek — noon to 1:30 p.m., community center lot
Mission — 2 to 6 p.m., Boys & Girls Club
June 24 (Wednesday)
Francis — 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., school parking lot
Rosebud — 1 to 4 p.m., All Stop gas station lot
June 25 (Thursday)
Parmelee — 10 a.m. to noon, community center lot
Martin — 1 to 2:30 p.m., CAP Building lot
Allen — 3 to 4 p.m., community center area
June 30 (Tuesday)
Rapid City — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., location to be determined
Rapid City — 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Beadle School front parking lot
July 1 (Wednesday)
Rapid City — 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Lakota Community Housing (North Housing Office parking lot)
St. Joseph's Indian School was my late husband's favorite charity. He would be pleased to see this story.