LA Public Library Retires Its 26-Year-Old Toyota Previa, Replaces It With New Sienna

After 26 years of service, the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) is finally letting its 1994 Toyota Previa get some rest. The van will be replaced by the brand’s latest minivan, again donated by the Toyota Dealers Association (TDA).

The 2021 Toyota Sienna that has been donated by TDA will, like its predecessor, be used to support the LAPL’s community outreach programs, its outdoor programming, and the delivery of materials to its 73 branches.

“Our 1994 Previa served our community well and we logged thousands of miles traveling to and from our neighborhood libraries over the past 26 years,” said Madeline J. Bryant, principal librarian of the Youth Services Department, Engagement and Learning Division. “The new Sienna represents an exciting next chapter for the library and we’re grateful to have a safe, fuel-efficient vehicle that will help us expand our services to reach even more Angelenos.”

Read Also: Nostalgia Goes Toe-To-Toe With Sense In This Toyota Previa Vs Sienna Test

Painted with the same livery as its predecessor, the LAPL plans to use its new Sienna to help implement its Read Baby Read initiative that delivers reading kits to new parents at participating hospitals and health clinics. Library staff are also planning on traveling to different neighborhoods in LA later this year to host fun, interactive outdoor programming for children and teens.

“Toyota is dedicated to driving mobility for all and by making the library accessible to more neighborhoods throughout LA, we’re helping to enrich young lives and foster a sense of imagination,” said Shawn Domeracki, general manager, Toyota Los Angeles Region. “We’re proud to support the Los Angeles Public Library and look forward to seeing how many more communities they’ll be able to impact behind the wheel of their new Sienna.”

The fourth-generation Toyota Sienna was revealed just last year and its self-charging hybrid drivetrain matches a 2.5-liter inline-four to two electric motors. Total system output is 243 hp and it returns an EPA-estimated 36 mpg.