Mailbox-style book drop pops up in subdivision
Little Free Library, Charter Number: 14758, is open for business.
The mailbox-style library sits in front of the Sanders home at 807 Grey Fox Circle in the Dogwood South subdivision. So far it contains a variety of books — both fiction and nonfiction – for both children and adults.
Three-year-old Hattie Brook Carr was very excited about her first book from the library. She picked out “Tootle,” the story of a baby locomotive attending train school.
Her excitement along with the other children who stopped by for a book Wednesday is exactly what Jacqueline Merville was hoping to see from bringing the library into their neighborhood.
Merville received the materials to build the library as a Mother’s Day gift from her husband. She loves reading to her son, Benjamin, and wants him to grow up loving books too.
Little Free Library is a literacy campaign that aims to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide. One by one, these hand-crafted miniature libraries have popped up in communities and Bossier Parish just got its first one.
The libraries are a place for neighbors to share their favorite pieces of literature with each other. The rules are simple – walk up to the library, open the doors, peek inside to see if there’s anything that interests you, take a book (or two), walk away and enjoy.
It’s based on the honor system, too, so bring it back when you’re finished. Users can also bring their own books to leave at the library.
Little Free Library, Charter Number: 14758, is just part of the growing movement of small book exchanges in front yards, coffee shops, office waiting rooms and other locations. By January of 2014, the total number of registered Little Free Libraries in the world was conservatively estimated to be nearly 15,000, according to their website.
Jean Sanders enjoys the thought of “neighbors helping neighbors” and was quick to offer her home as the place to put the library. She hopes others will join the movement and install their own community library.
Merville hopes the library is a continued success despite their plans to move out of the neighborhood. However, Little Free Library, Charter Number: 14758, is already bringing the neighborhood closer together.
For more information on how to start a Little Free Library, visit www.littlefreelibrary.org.
