Posted by Anne Decker on Aug 14, 2017
We cut the ribbon on the Little Free Libraries Tuesday!
Through a partnership between the Lima Parks and Recreation Department, Salvation Army, Lima Senior High School and the Lima Rotary Club, Lima area residents now have a new and exciting way to access free books. The Little Free Library program, started in 2009, features a small mounted box in public locations containing donated books available to the public. Nearly 10 million books are shared through this program each year. Thanks to this recent partnership, these boxes are now being seen in several parks throughout the city. The Little Free Library is a weather-tight structure that is the home to both children’s and adult books. The structures are put out throughout the community, and the concept is to encourage people to come and take a book and, if so inclined, leave a book. The Lima Rotary Club’s goal is not only to promote reading and literacy, but also to promote the accessibility of books to those who may not have the means and transportation to these resources. The Lima Rotary Club initiated the program and The Lima Senior High School Carpentry Class built the 10 libraries as a winter project. Once constructed, The Lima Senior High School Art’s department painted different children’s book themes and characters on the exterior. The first 5 libraries are now set up in Faurot Park, Robb Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Lincoln Park and at the Lima Salvation Army. The Lima Rotary Club will continue working with local area agencies and businesses on the remaining five locations and hopes to have all 10 installed this fall.
A special thanks to Zach Kurland who collected more than 200 books and donated to the Little Free Libraries!